Asheville musicians pay tribute to News 13 producer who played a mean sax

ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) — The sadness of losing a News 13 colleague and well-known local musician left us grasping for words Wednesday, but music helped break the silence on a somber occasion.

Outside Nazareth First Baptist, 11 musicians paid tribute to Ruby Mayfield as pallbearers carried her casket.

"She'd be laughing," Lenny Pettinelli said. "She would want her saxophone, she would be joining in."

"She'd wanna play!" Alex Bradley added.

They gathered to play "I'll Fly Away" in memory of Mayfield.

"It's a huge loss for Asheville's musical community," Pettinelli said.

For decades, Mayfield was a News 13 producer by day and incredible sax player by night.

"She learned how to balance that in such a way that, I don't know how she did it to be honest with you," Mayfield's son Israel said.

"I will remember her as a saxophone matriarch, loving and accepting of all folks," Pettinelli said.

Maybe the acceptance was partly a product of life experience.

Ruby was born Reuben. Back in the day, he served in the U.S. Army and was assigned to the 18th Army Band in Fort Devens, Massachusetts, as a sax player.

He left the Army 40 years ago and began working for WLOS in the Greenville bureau as a photographer and editor.

Not long after that, Mayfield made the transition to Ruby.

Through it all, music was her escape and source of identity. She often played at Tressa's downtown before the club closed.

"I'll just never ever forget her. It was an honor to be a part of Ruby's life," Tressa Thornton said at the funeral.

LONGTIME WLOS EMPLOYEE REMEMBERED FOR HER MUSIC, DETERMINATION

"To me, that was her life," Bradley said. "Playing music no matter what, no matter what obstacles she faced and leaving that legacy."

Over the years, the common thread was the kindness that came so naturally. Mayfield lived to share her gift.

"She wouldn't want us sitting around feeling sad. She would want us to celebrate her life," Pettinelli said.

The performance gave friends and loved ones a chance to smile through tears, wondering what Mayfield would think.

"She's gonna be here playing with us in spirit," Pettinelli said.

"She'd be going, 'What are you doing?" Israel Mayfield said. "Why are you making such a fuss on me? But I think she would love it."

Click here to watch the service.

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