Ruth Arizona Moultri Johnson

RUTH, daughter of the late Mr. Paul Gaither and Mrs. Tinnie Elizabeth Gaither (Satterfield), was born on January 1, 1935 in Statesville, North Carolina. Ruth was the fourth of five children born of this union, all of whom preceded her in death. RUTH obtained her early education in the North Carolina School system. She was a gifted student, intellectually curious and a star basketball player. She graduated Valedictorian of her high school and had high hopes of going on to college but could not afford to attend. As a young woman Ruth was adventurous, bold and beautiful. RUTH was an employee of Regal Laundry, Christie Cleaners and Commercial Credit Corporation of Baltimore prior to becoming an employee for the Maryland Correctional Institution for Women, “MCIW” at Jessup, Maryland. In 1975, RUTH met her soul mate Mr. Roosevelt “Bo” Johnson and together they created a blended family. Ruth was blessed with an already adult daughter, Alice. On November 24, 2006, twenty-seven years after their journey began, Johnson (as she called him) and Mo (as he called her) united in Holy Matrimony. “Mo” was preceded in death by her friend, soul mate and husband, Roosevelt “Bo” Johnson who departed this life on April 24, 2007. In 1991, Sgt. Ruth “Mo” Moultri gleefully became a retiree form the State of Maryland, having served with distinction, care and respect for the inmates, staff, her colleagues and the administration (for the most part). Ruth had a reputation for being clear and to the point, getting the job done and “I Did It My Way” was her theme song. RUTH: in the kitchen sitting in that chair cards in hand, “hey you” would be the greeting. “just talked to Val.” Let’s see, I could eat a piece of fish. Oh what’s in that bag – wings? That will work, “thank you baby”. “you wait til that Trisa gets home, I am so mad at her. “Here Jackson.” You stopping by “E” house. Tell your mother I said hello! “Wait a minute. I am coming to the door. You be careful! Comin by tomorrow? SHE STANDS ON THE PORCH, WAITS FOR ME TO PULL OFF, “LOVE YOU KAREN, “love you Mo”. That’s how an evening would go. Miss that caring amusing loving kind voice. Last week, Risa found for us a message penned by none other than: Mom, Momma, Ma, Grandma, Gram Gram, Moultri, Mo, Our Mother, Ruth, Aunt Ruth, Ms Ruth: Be strong, so that nothing can disturb your peace of mind. Talk health, happiness and prosperity to everyone you meet. Make all you friends feel there is someone and something special in them. Look at the sunny side of everything. Be too big for worry and too noble for anger. Think only of the best, work only for the best, and expect only the best. Forget the mistakes of the past and press on to greater achievements of the future. Spend so much time improving yourself that you have no time left to criticize others. RUTH was also preceded in death by her infant son Terry, her siblings: Joseph “Joe” Gaither, Clement “Clem” Paul Gaither 6/24/88, Mattie Belle Isaac 10/7/96, Wilford Gaither 12/18/94 and her beloved sister/cousin Alberta Elizabeth Wilson “Bert” Thompson 11/14/87. RUTH leaves to BASK in her ever present glow: five beautiful daughters and their respective husbands a.k.a Ruth’s sons, Alice Woods (Sam), Carla “June” Gaither-Boles (Richard “Ricky”), Norma “Jean” Miller (Charles), Marsha L. Brown (Perry), Cheryl L. Clark (Reginald “Regi”); also Lionel Hall (Stacia); nine grandchildren, Risa “Trisa” Davis, Rev. Ojeda Hall, Kyesha Sturgis (Russell), Menelik “Chaz”, Blair Clark, Grogery Boles, Perrell, Marshae and Darshani Brown; seven great-grandchildren, Kyra, Dar’vyon, Jamarion,Jordyn, Adwa, Shoa and Selat; nephew, Raymond Gaither; nieces, Shirley Ikard, Shena; godson, Brandon and Mrs. Carrie Mae Eckles of North Carolina; “Mo’s” devoted homies, Craig, Marsha “Grant”, Wilson, Carroll, Galloway, Jones, Moore, Freeman, Baker, Holmes, Richardson, Purdue, Garrison, C. Smith, and a host of other relatives and friends. Last but not least, Mr. Jackson Davis “Dog” a devoted companion in her last days.

Tributes

Ruth Arizona Moultri Johnson

January 1, 1935 - November 17, 2012