Ruthie Lee (Carter) McWilliams was born on November 25, 1940 in Simpson County, Mississippi to the late Lynch Walker and Thelma (Carter) Johnson. She later relocated to Gulfport, MS, to live with her grandparents, the late Leon and Clementeen Carter, where she attended and graduated from Thirty-third Avenue High School. She accepted Christ and was baptized beginning her journey of knowing the Lord in a personal way. She became a member of Ramsay Memorial United Methodist Church in 2009 where she attended faithfully until she answered the Master's Call on January 29, 2024.

Mother Ruthie married and traveled the world and was blessed with two children, a daughter, Teresa Barkum (Nathaniel, Sr.) and a son, Linwood McWilliams II (fiance' Ashley). On returning home after much travels in a military family, she settled in Long Beach, MS where she was a caregiver for many years, caring for both the young and elderly.

Affectionately known to her children as "Rube," she loved spending time with her family, both her immediate and extended family. She enjoyed cooking, watching old movies (especially Westerns), listening to gospel music, Shopping (with a capital S), attending church services at Ramsay and/or watching Joel Osteen Ministries when she was unable to attend in person. She wanted to stand and give God the Praise even when others thought she should be sitting down. She didn't want to quench the Spirit!

She is preceded in death by four siblings Robert Walker, Lenora Carter, Gloria Ross, and Baron Johnson; and leaves behind the following six siblings to cherish her memories: Jackie Morris of Jackson, MS; Gladys Walker, Carolyn McClam, Raymond Johnson, Beverly Hebert, and Wendell Johnson (Heather) all of Gulfport, MS. She also leaves several loving grandchildren: Nate Barkum, Jr, Tristan Barkum, Gavin Barkum, Tiffany Pounds, Leigh-An McWilliams, Keegan Truebner, Logan McWilliams and Meadow McWilliams; one great aunt, Dorothy Appleberry of Compton, CA; 8 great-grandchildren, our beloved, super hyper family pet toy poodle whom she loved named Judah; as well as a host of nieces, nephews, church family, neighbors and friends.

When asked by many of her beloved friends and family, "What do you remember most about Mother Ruthie?" Some answered, her gentle spirit, her loving smile, her kind words, her inner and outer beauty, her enduring perseverance, her quiet nature, her expressive praise, her generous giving, but mostly her unfailing love for the Lord. What 1 might she say about herself? She might say, as is written in 2 Timothy 4:7-8, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing." Amen, and Amen!!!