LOVING MEMORIES

Ruthie Mae Parks, affectionately known as Ruth, was born on December 20, 1925 in Okmulgee, OK to Girlie Griffin and Lee Parks as one of eight children.  She was raised, attended school, and gave birth to her first child, John, in Okmulgee prior to relocating to El Centro, CA where she met and married Cleophus (Cleo) Johnson on July 25, 1959.  Cleophus and Ruth then moved to Waco, TX where they lived on a 100-acre farm with many different animals.  To this union, five children were born: Helen, Adolph (AJ), Sandra, Linda, and Fred.  However, Ruth and Cleo would ultimately separate, and Ruth and the children re-located to Sacramento, CA in 1965.

As a single mother, Ruth worked various jobs including being a hairdresser and domestic engineer to support her five children and ultimately buy her first home in 1971 where she lived until God called her home. Ruth's hobbies included singing, playing the piano, cooking, and entertaining family and friends.  As a result, her house was always the neighborhood "hangout spot" while her children were young, but as they got older and left the house Ruth's home became the after-church "hangout spot" for the saints because everybody loved grandma's cooking.

Ruth was very active in the church, and she served in many roles including joining a gospel singing group, hospitality team, missionary, Pastor's Aid and ultimately a church mother at the following churches during her lifetime: Pentecostal Temple COGIC, True Holiness COGIC, and Miracle Temple Deliverance Ministries. Ruth also loved to watch church channels on TV.  She was a very generous and self-less woman who was always feeding, clothing, housing, and otherwise caring for people with her own limited resources and income.

Ruth also loved to shop, dress in a nice suit and hat, and go out to enjoy a great meal.  Her favorite restaurants were: Cheesecake Factory, Olive Garden, Sizzler, and Golden Corral. A mother to many, Ruth loved all of her biological and God-children, but she cherished and spoiled her grandchildren most of all. Ruth loved spending time with family and friends.  However, she would be quick to tell you about yourself in a minute. To know her was to love her. Ruth will always be remembered as a bright and shining light in her community and in the churches where she served. H er influence will forever remain in the lives of all who knew her. ☺