Fannie Ruth Benton Roberts Griner Brown Jenkins

“Miss Ruth” or FannieRuth Jenkins woke up in the arms of Jesus this past Mothers Day weekend. She was born September 19, 1939. FannieRuth or Miss Ruth as so many knew her lead a remarkable life. She was the master of her own fate from 13 years old on when she married the first of her 5 husbands. She loved them all with great passion, Devaughn, Jerry, Jim and Al all, and Al Jenkins best of all, she married him twice and was his widow at her passing. All her life FannieRuth “looked after” everybody. She had 2 sons Leon Roberts who preceded her in death and Lanny Roberts. She and Lanny lived a few hundred feet apart for many years each taking care of the other along with help from Sarah Morris.

Earlier in her life she was a foster parent. FannieRuth had many foster children that she loved like her own. Barbara, John and Candace she was especially close to over the years. She was a second mother and Grandmother to nieces and nephews and cousins taking it on herself to help anyone that needed help. Her heart held a special place for her niece Rainey Lynn Rushing and her Great niece Carina. Altho she live far away from her grandchildren she treasured her daughter in law Collette Roberts and grandchildren Amy (Dan) Gerben, Ian (Krystle) Roberts, Nikki (Josh) Snyder and Matt (Lindsey) Roberts and their families. She loved to travel far to where they lived and spend family time with Leon and his family even tho far away. Tristan, Dylan, Camryn, Ryleigh, Aidan, Elodie, Elia, Cora, Hampton, Shelby, Harrison, Violet and Mia are her Great grandchildren.

Her wonderful parents Dennis and Effie Clements Benton and her beloved Grandmother, Ma Belle Clements who lived with FannieRuth at her life’s end, have gone on before her as well as her brother Delmas Benton and sister Pansy Lynn Milhous. Her brother Drexel Benton and his wife Marcianne survive, FannieRuth and Marcianne were especially close and spent many of the last 57 years together in the flower beds or telling their stories and secrets to each other on her back porch, she was also close to their children and grandchildren, Dawn Deeann Aurelia Beata and Carina all of Thomasville spending so much precious time together.

She was a big part of so many families and loved to see them coming down that long country lane. FannieRuth had some stories to tell. She told her stories her way from the beginning, how she remembered them and they ended her way too, always telling the truth just not always getting it accurate. Every one that knew her loved to hear her stories. FannieRuth was not rich in today’s monetary standards but had a wealth beyond any, of living life to its fullest! In terms of those that knew and loved and had been helped by her, she passed a wealthy woman in life’s abundance and the love we all had for her.

If she had two dimes and you need one she’d give it to you.

Each person of the hundreds that knew her,  were related to her, or worked with her, had experienced her wit and her lesson learned stories. FannieRuth’s was known for reading a want ad with someone giving away a puppy and having every one crying over the story she would tell about her animals or reading an obituary and having you in a side splitting laughter at a story she knew about that person. She was very smart, although  not greatly educated, but could guess every Jeopardy question and be right.

Tho she never lived far away from her home of Nevils Ga. She had so many life experiences to speak of with the people she encountered. It’s fitting that she, the mama Ruth to everyone, passed on Mothers Day weekend when she would tell you that like she loved her chickens and bittys as she loved getting in the middle of all those lives of the people, especially young people, who flocked to her to tell their troubles to and glean from her ageless wisdom. She so often said to anyone in trouble telling her their woes .. I’ve been there done that and here’s the lesson you need to learn from all I know. FannieRuth didn’t beat around the bush telling you just what she thought and just what you needed to do! Then she would sit you down at her table and cook you a mess of peas and fry okra and make a big roast so she could feed your belly and your heart and offer you comfort and people loved her for that! As Rainey will say you can learn so much about life from Aunt FannieRuth just by potting a plant in the garden with her.

In 2008 someone asked her how she was doing now. She said well I’m going through my “Green period” in life I’m recycling, recycling husbands that is, I’m back with my third husband Al after a 25 year recess. That was FannieRuth for you.

Her ashes will remain in the place on earth that held her heart.

There will be a big hole in our hearts, we will miss her and remember her as larger than life… an icon! RIP

A memorial service will be held for “Miz Ruth” At pastor Onasis Clay church A new Beginning at 147 Shirley Dr. Guyton, Ga. At 11:40 this Saturday the 18th. Pastor Onasis is a dear friend of her and her family.