Ruth Southerland Mrtin

Ruth Southerland Martin passed from this life to join her Heavenly Father on Saturday, August 3, 2013 at her home in the White County Community of Roosevelt. Ruth was born on January 12, 1925, in Wilburn, Arkansas to Sam and Creacy Southerland. She is preceded in death by her husband of 59 years, Ernest Martin, her parents, her sisters Nervy Southerland, Irene Hazelwood, Lorene Harral, Kate Magness, and Nettie Latch and brothers Harvey Southerland and Veston Southerland. She is survived by her daughter Faye Babb and husband Tom, her grandson John Babb, her granddaughter Heather Blanton and her husband Matt, her brother Clinton Southerland and wife Mildred, her sister Naomi Stratton and husband Jim, many precious nephews and nieces and great nephews and nieces, many students, and a host of friends and relatives. A devoted wife to Ernest, she worked beside him on the farm, trying her best to can or freeze everything he grew in the garden. When he decided to bring someone, or a group, in for lunch, she could prepare a meal on short notice. Together they raised a rather mischievous daughter, Faye, who thought that together they could do anything. Sometimes she expected them to. They never failed. Ruth was a teacher. She began her teaching career in a one-room schoolhouse in DeKalb (Cleburne County) in 1944. After taking some time to work at a defense plant in Indiana during World War II, she returned to teach at Wilburn from 1946 to 1956. In the fall of 1956 she began teaching second graders at Pleasant Plains, Arkansas and held that position until she retired in 1982. After retirement she did substitute teaching for a number of years. How she loved and enjoyed her students! Once you had been in Mrs. Ruth's class, you always belonged to her. She loved her Lord and her church, Roosevelt Baptist. Growing up with a family of singers, she treasured singing gospel songs and sang at church until she was no longer able. Then she sang in her heart. Visitation is scheduled for Monday, August 5, 1:00 pm at Roosevelt Missionary Baptist Church with funeral services to follow at 2:00 pm. She will be buried next to Ernest in Roosevelt Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Roosevelt Cemetery or Roosevelt Missionary Baptist Church.

Ruth Southerland Mrtin

January 12, 1925 - August 3, 2013