Pallbearers will be Deacon Alan Brown, Deacon Douglas Clayton, Deacon George Jenkins, Deacon James Keaton, Deacon Nathaniel Keaton, Mr. Roy McIntyre.

Ruth E. Merritt was born March 29, 1926 in Bainbridge, Georgia to William and Bessie Jackson Williams. She was the middle child of three children. A sister, Grace Williams Jennings, and brother, Rev. William Marcus Williams, preceded her in death. Their father died when Ruth and her siblings were very young children, hardly tall enough to see into his casket. While never remarrying, Mrs. Williams reared her three children and saw them well into adulthood.

Mrs. Merritt passed from this life on May 5, 2010 at Cape Fear Valley Hospital in Fayetteville, North Carolina.

Growing up in Bainbridge and graduating from Hutto High School, Mrs. Merritt studied at Georgia State College, now Savannah State University, and started her teaching career in Cairo, Georgia. During many of those years in Bainbridge, the Williams lived within easy walking distance of a young man named Milton W. Merritt. During his childhood, Milton's mother, Nettie Merritt, was widowed by the tragic death of her husband. These two widows (Mamma Nettie and Ma Bessie) became friends and remained so throughout their lives.

Shortly after Milton Merritt returned from World War II service in Europe, he and Ruth Williams were married. They had one child, Karl William Merritt, who was born in 1947. Milton and Ruth Merritt were married for twenty-two plus years.

About 1955, Ruth and Karl joined Milton who was working in Camilla and moved into the home where Mrs. Merritt lived until her death.

In those early Camilla years, Mrs. Merritt worked hard as was her way. She did not immediately go back to teaching. Instead, she worked for a while at Royal Poultry Plant processing chickens. From there, she completed a cosmetology course and operated a beauty shop for several years. When Karl was about to graduate from high school, Mrs. Merritt took courses at Albany State College (now University) to regain certification to teach in Georgia. Once certified, she returned to teaching. This time in the public schools of Mitchell County and remained in that system until retirement. Her teaching career, touching young lives, spanned over thirty years. Even in her early eighties she worked as a substitute teacher.

Throughout her life, Mrs. Ruth E. Merritt walked closely with God and was committed to knowing and doing His will. Her living reflected a rare but sorely needed commitment to serving others. This commitment to God and to His people shows through in the following partial listing of her affiliations, positions and activities. This listing reflects involvement with Union Missionary Baptist Church, the General Missionary Baptist Convention of Georgia, Camilla Missionary Baptist Association, Camilla District Union, and other endeavors that allowed for serving people:

/// Union Missionary Baptist Church :

--- Member for over fifty years

--- Former member of Senior Choir

--- One of the first youth directors

--- Directed Red Circle girls

--- Deaconess Ministry, past president

--- Mission Teacher

--- Served as chairperson for many church programs

/// General Missionary Baptist Convention of Georgia: Past President of Second District (includes 14 counties); Former program director, coordinator, instructor, and summer camp counselor at Camp John Hope, Fort Valley, GA; Served on the Oratorical Committee for the State Sunday School and BTU Congress; Local program and activity planning committee and various other committees; Regularly attended the State Sunday School and BTU Congress and the General Missionary Baptist Convention of Georgia; Also attended the National Baptist Convention on several occasions. /// Camilla Missionary Baptist Association: Chairperson of Nominating Committee for the Women's Department; Treasurer, Sunday School & BTU Congress; Chairperson, G.O. Marcus Scholarship Breakfast

/// Camilla District Union of the Camilla Baptist Association: Certified instructor; President, Women Department; Past Sunday School secretary

/// Other Endeavors: Member, Camilla and Vicinity Planning Committee; Currently serving second term as President of the Mitchell/Baker Unit of The Georgia Retired Educators Association; Past president of Christian Women's Club; Member, Lambda Xi Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

Mrs. Ruth E. Merritt is survived by her son, Karl W. Merritt (Denise) of Fayetteville, NC; granddaughters: Hope R. Merritt, Atlanta, GA; Monica Gilbert (Earl), Camilla; Cheryl L. Merritt, Charleston, SC; grandson: Harold W. Merritt, Miami, FL; great granddaughter: Callista Gilbert, Camilla; niece: Barbara Jennings (children: Robin, Danielle, Chris), Somerset, NJ; cousin: Cula Jackson (Herushy), Jacksonville, FL; sister-in-law: Maurice Williams, New Brunswick, NJ; several other cousins, and many friends who by their actions proved themselves genuine.