Ruth Bond-Mickens

RUTH BOND MICKENS, born on December 23, 1916 to the late Elder James Emory bond, Sr. and Isabella Grant Bond, departed this life to be with the Lord on May 9, 2006 at 2:20p.m.A native Baltimorean, Ruth was the oldest child of James and Isabella’s ten children who were reared in the family homestead at 236 N. Mount Street, the house purchased by her parents in 1915 that still is occupied by Bond family members. James Emory Bond, Sr. lovingly refereed to Ruth as “the child of his strength,” words than symbolized the life long bond of trust and friendship that he shared with his first born child. During her young adult years, Ruth and “Daddy” spent hours conversing about his childhood in Back River, Baltimore County and his world travels as an enlisted soldier in the United States Army during World War I. Ruth’s mother, Isabella, a graduate of the Colored High and Training School, instilled in her children a passion for learning, homemaking, and moral virtue. Emulating her mother’s example, young Ruth became an excellent student, a skilled seamstress, a baker of cakes, cookies, and breads, and a keeper of her family’s history and traditions. Ruth’s nine siblings respected their oldest sister because of her wisdom and the example that she set.Ruth attended Baltimore City Public Schools, and she was graduated from Frederick Douglass High School as a member of the class of February, 1935. She was taught and mentored by many outstanding educators, but she especially admired her teachers S. Leroy Taylor, Edna Over Gray Campbell, and Fannie Barber. Ruth’s favorite subjects were mathematics and French. Not only did she tutor her brothers and sisters in these subjects, but also she earned spending change from tutoring her friends and neighbors. Ruth was an avid reader for rare books, newspapers, magazines and journals.Following her graduation from Douglass High School, Ruth began to search for her own church home and religious experience. Although she was reared in a God-fearing Christian home, Ruth often said that she felt the need to make a personal commitment to Christ. She visited and later joined the Church of God in Christ located on Mount Street very near to her home. In 1945, guided by the leadership of its Pastor, the late Elder R.A. Carr, the church expanded its borders and was renamed the Rehoboth Church of God in Christ. During her thirty year sojourn in this faith community, she served her church in many capacities: church secretary, Sunday school teacher, church registrar and historian, and editor of the Rehoboth Beacon newsletter. One of her favorite activities was singing with the Rehoboth choir. According to Ruth’s romantic tale, she met her future husband, a debonair gentleman, when by happenstance they stood beside each other on the choir.One Sunday morning, Hannibal asked her if he might borrow ten cents to add to his “church offering.” The melodic soprano, Ruth Bond, granted his request. Shortly thereafter, their whirlwind courtship began. Hannibal Mickens, Sr. was a member of the large Brockington family that migrated from Florence, South Carolina to Baltimore, Maryland in the early 1930’s. Ruth soon discovered that the Brockingtons, Mickens, and Saunders were not just church family but were neighbors as well. The romance between Ruth and Hannibal brought the families together. On December 17, 1938, Ruth Bond and Hannibal Mickens were joined in holy matrimony in a very sacred, elaborate wedding. This union was blessed with two children: Hannibal Mickens, Jr. born September 15, 1939 and Lois Naomi Mickens, born February 6, 1944.Ruth’s wifehood and motherhood epitomized the coming together of all of her dreams. For the first fourteen years of her forty-seven year marriage, she devoted her time and talents to homemaking, childrearing, and loving Hannibal, Sr., affectionately called “Reds.” Before there was a Martha Stewart, B. Smith or Top Chef, there existed Ruth B. Mickens, arranging pictures, decorating corners, stretching lace curtains, and collecting antiques. She was a cook extraordinaire who prepared the best blueberry dumplings, deep dish apple pies, crab cakes, vegetable soup, great northern beans with ham hocks, and other culinary delights. As a result of her reputation as master chef and supreme hostess, she was hired to cater weddings, anniversaries, and parties. As a mother, Ruth was a strict disciplinarian who required good behavior and manners from Hannibal and Lois at all times however, her high expectations were tempered by love, patience, and nurturing. Because she did not work outside of the home, the public schools that Hannibal and Lois attended called upon her for P. T. A. duties, costume making, refreshments, etc. Often, for special occasions, under Ruth’s tutelage, Hannibal and Lois leaned and recited passages from the Book of Psalms, The Christmas story recorded in Isaiah, chapter 53 and Luke, chapter 1, as well as poems written by Edgar A. Guest, John Greenleaf Whittier, and Ralph Waldo Emerson.When Lois turned fourteen and Hannibal was graduated from Frederick Douglass High School, Ruth decided that it was time to explore new vistas. She entered the world of employment in the public sector and was trained to become a health care professional. First, she was employed as an X-ray Technologist for the Baltimore City Department of Public Health. Next, she served as a Clinic Administrator for the Baltimore City Department of Public Health, and lastly, for fifteen years she worked as a Laboratory Technologist for the Baltimore City Bureau of Laboratories. Due to her declining health, she retired from the Baltimore City Health and Laboratory Systems, after having worked consistently for twenty years.Ruth retired from her career and somewhat followed the orders of her physician, Dr. Elijah B. Saunders; she quickly returned to her first love, her work in ministry. In 1965, she joined the First United Church Jesus Christ Apostolic, established and pastured by her family member and friend, Bishop Monroe R. Saunders, Sr. Despite her chronic health problems, Ruth continued her rigorous involvements in church work. Pastor Saunders appointed Ruth Bond Mickens to the Board of Trustees; she held the position of Church Secretary. Additionally, she served as Women’s Department President, President of the Spiritual Resources Committee, and charter member of the United Church of Jesus Christ Scholarship Board. With loyalty and dedication, Ruth served the First United Church (Transformation Church of Jesus Christ) for forty years.Ruth Bond Mickens lived a rich life, full of joy, love, and peace. She managed her home and lived alone for twenty-one years following her husband’s death in 1985.To the chagrin of her five granddaughters, at the time of her death, she still advocated loving your husband, homemaking, working for the church, and then establishing a career. She often reminisced about how she enjoyed serving “Dad” (her husband) his breakfast in bed, shaving him, and giving him personal foot care. Before her tragic fall and the health problems that she endured as a result of the fall, she enjoyed reading her friends and relatives obituaries, many of which she had written. Ruth sometimes entertained herself by looking through her old National Geographic Magazines from the 1930’s and 1940’s. Her grandchildren were fascinated by her conversations that were sprinkled with vignettes about accompanying her father on his trip to the Holy Land in 1965. She loved to say, “Daddy and I visited Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, and Egypt.”Most of all, Ruth treasured the bond that she shared with her brothers and sisters. When Ruth, Luther, Edith, Isabella, Ruby, Pearl, Frank, Mandy, and Chloe gathered for their monthly birthday celebrations and breakfast, they sometimes argued about who loved Ruth the most. Aunt “Nu,” Ruth’s sister-in-law, tidied Ruth’s home and prepared her meals when she could not function independently. Juanita, Hannibal’s wife, was the person whose name she called during her pain filled moments, and “Mac,” Lois’ husband, prayed daily for her recovery. Her son, Hannibal, visited her every day, without fail, for one year. Her daughter, Lois, took care of all of her personal needs during her daily visits.Ruth’s journey on this earth has ended, but we rejoice that she has transitioned to her heavenly home. The framed embroidered motto that hangs on the wall next to Ruth’s front door states: “Let me live in a house by the side of the road and be a friend to man.” In Ruth’s soft-spoken demeanor, she welcomed mankind into her graces.She leaves to cherish her memory: her son, Hannibal Mickens, Jr. and Hannibal’s spouse, Sonia Juanita Henderson Mickens; her daughter, Lois Naomi Mickens McMillan and her spouse, Betha D. McMillan, Jr.; her grandchildren, Anita Michelle Mickens, Tiffany Beth McMillan, Jessica Patrice Mickens Williams and her spouse, Antoine Williams, Angela Lois McMillan Howell, and her spouse, Ricardo O. Howell, David Betha McMillan, and Sally Camille McMillan; her great grandsons, Mark Isaiah Benjamin, and Antoine, Jr.; her precious brothers, Luther Grant Bond, Sr. and Frank Bond, Sr.; her dear sisters, Edith Bond Mercer, Pearl Bond Dean, Mandy Bond Bynum, and Chloe Bond; nephews, nieces, cousins, and a host of other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband Hannibal Mickens, Sr. and sisters and brothers, Isabella Bond Byrd, Ruby Bond Rivers, and James Emory Bond, II.Ruth…” Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all. Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be pais

Tributes

Ruth Bond-Mickens

December 23, 1916 - May 9, 2006