"When Ruth arrived
August 15 [2000] she discovered several residents who were with
her at Scarritt College 1946-48, and one high school classmate,
Hunter Griffin. She's a native of Shinnston, in the beautiful
mountains of West Virginia, a member of a large family. She is
grateful for her family and for her church, both of which helped
her learn to relate to people. The church also nurtured its
children and youth, teaching her to express love and joy and to
deal with sorrow.For three yers she taught school and worked with the children and youth in her church. While working in a church youth camp one summer, a pastor-leader invited her to be Director of Christian Education in his church. Instead, Ruth entered Scarritt College and became a deaconess candidate. With a major in Social Group Work and a minor in Christian education, she graduated in June 1948 and was commissioned a deaconess. In her first appointment she spent two years as Girls' Club worker at the St. Joseph, Missouri, Wesley House, then to Rosa Valdez Community Center in Tampa, Florida. After thirteen years in Florida, she spent a year in Detroit directing a center within a church before moving to Portsmouth, Virginia.
Race relations were always a special concern and she served without regard to race in a changing community for twenty-two years in Portsmouth, including eight as pastor of the local congregation while an African-American ran the Wesley House. After retirement she remained in the city another fourteen years, during which she served three years as President of the Board of Wesley House and four as a district UMW officer.