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March 26, 1929 – Aug. 21, 2024

Ruth White Carroll passed away peacefully and went home to be with Jesus, just before sunrise on Aug. 21, 2024, at the age of 95, at St. Catherine’s Village in Madison, MS. She was a beloved sister-in-Christ and longtime member of Olde Towne Community Church in Ridgeland, MS.

Ruth was born on March 26, 1929, in Meridian, MS, the daughter of Charles Ether White (1902-1979) and Ollie Reed White (1904-1968).

Ruth was preceded in death by her beloved husband, John Carroll, Sr. (2016); sisters, Evelyn Shumate (2023), Jean Smith (1979), and Barbara Cole (2022); daughter, Georgia Carroll Conn (2018) and grandson, Kevin Conn (2014).

Growing up in Meridian, Ruth gave her heart to Jesus at age 12. A lifelong member of the Church of God movement (with general offices in Anderson, IN), she grew up attending the Sixth Street Church of God. She graduated from Meridian High School in 1947 where she was involved in various school activities and lettered in track. Her passion as a teenager, which continued long into her adult years, was writing, particularly poetry and essays. She won several local, state, and national writing contests during her school years, including a monetary scholarship to Anderson College for a national writing and oration competition during her senior year of high school. She was chosen to represent the State of Mississippi CHOG for the national contest at the 1946 International Youth Convention (IYC) in Charleston, West Virginia after she won at the state level for the contest at the CHOG state campgrounds in Dixon, MS. One of her first jobs out of school was working as the personal assistant to Mr. Newell of Newell Paper Company in Meridian.

Ruth was a founding member of Parkview Church of God in Meridian, MS (now known as NorthPark Church), Community Chapel Church of God in Natchez, MS, and First Church of God in Madison, MS (now known as Olde Towne Community Church in Ridgeland, MS). She was very active with her various local church families, particularly in the areas of music as a congregational worship leader and choir director (adult, youth, and children), creating and writing church newsletters, and leadership with ladies’ groups, other small groups, and in various church organizations on the local, state, and national levels. She and her husband John truly enjoyed, over the years, sharing hospitality, smiles, and laughter with others and helping those in need – in their home, at church, with family, co-workers, and neighbors, with employees who worked for them in the restaurant business, and countless others with whom they came into contact. Ruth had great passion, high energy, a positive outlook and spirit, and a work ethic for details and excellence, as well as helping, teaching, and encouraging individuals by giving her time and talents and modeling what she taught.

Ruth is survived by her two sons, David Stewart (wife, Terry) and Johnny Carroll (wife, Karana); three daughters, Judy Carroll Murray, Catherine Carroll Allison (husband Brian), and Janie Carroll Dukes; sixteen grandchildren, twenty-five great-grandchildren, and one great-great grandchild: Thad Stewart (wife, Christy); Jena Stewart Rush (husband, Alston and children, Benjamin, Clara Jane, and Drew); Neal Stewart (wife, Natalie and child, Mackenzie Jean); Tori Carroll Delgado (husband, Josh and children, John Luis and Lucas); Jordan Carroll (wife, Jordyn and children, Jeremiah, Opal Jane, and soon to be baby daughter); Alee Carroll Hill (husband, Jake); Charlie Murray Jr. (wife, Wendi and children, Tori (Jon – child: Finlay), Noah, and Carter); Christy Murray Campbell (children, Michael Jason and Preston); Kelly Murray Sinclair (husband, Trey and children, Strauss and Cappy); Don Conn Jr. (child, Kashton); Candice Ribarich (husband, Chris and children, Brandon, Benjamin, Raelynn); Evonne Darwin (husband, Drew and child, Ella); Ashlan Allison Speck (husband, Tyler and children, Adelina and Remington); Jason Dukes (wife, Casey and children, Theo and Griffith); Kris Dukes (husband, Matt Jacobsen); Scott Dukes (wife, Josie Portrillo and child, Vinny).

At the time of her passing, Ruth was residing at St. Catherine’s Village in Madison, MS, Memory Care, located in Campbell Cove (Hughes Center) where she received excellent care and much love from the wonderful nurses, caregivers, support staff, and doctors.

Special thanks to the Gentiva Hospice staff who provided much-needed extra care in her final weeks and to Ott and Lee Funeral Home of Brandon for their help and care over the years with family funeral service and burial arrangements.

The graveside service will be held on Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2024, at 11 a.m., at the Floral Hills Memory Gardens (4111 Hwy. 80, Pearl, MS 39208).

A memorial service will be held on Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, at Olde Towne Community Church (220 West Ridgeland Ave, Ridgeland, MS 39157) with visitation from 10 until 11 a.m. and service to follow at 11 a.m.