Ruby West has been described as &uot;a little mouse always doing good, very quietly.&uot;

At least that’s what the person who nominated her as an unsung hero in this year’s Profile edition of The Democrat said.

&uot;That was quite comical,&uot; West said about her description. &uot;It just struck me like that.&uot;

West said she was surprised by her nomination, and she is not certain who would have nominated her.

&uot;I’ve got an idea, but I’m not certain,&uot; she said.

West is a native of Jones County and moved to Natchez in 1956 to taking a teaching job.

She became a member of Rose Hill Missionary Baptist Church and since her retirement in 1993 she has busied herself with her church’s food programs and other volunteer activities.

&uot;I try to do good works but I don’t do it … just to get recognition,&uot; West said. &uot;I do it because there’s a need there.&uot;

Her church serves food boxes to about 100 needy families each month through its benevolent fund. It also provides bulk foods at discount prices to other families.

Each month, West often arrives early in the morning to prepare the boxes for distribution.

&uot;I just try to be useful wherever I can and if anybody’s in need I try to help them,&uot; West said.

West also is involved with the Mississippi Homemaker Volunteers, a community service organization active in Adams County and 66 other counties.

This week has also been named Mississippi Homemaker Volunteers week by the MSU Extension Service.

For West, all of these activities are just a way to keep busy.

&uot;I feel like if I’m not busy, I’ll just sit down and waste away and I’d rather be doing something especially if it can help somebody else,&uot; West said.

She is also active with the Southwest Mississippi Retired Teachers Association and mentors a student at the Central Alternative School.

&uot;If anything needs (doing) that I can do I’m right there trying to do it,&uot; West said.