Annie Ruth Herndon

On Monday, February 22nd, 2021, Annie Ruth Herndon , loving wife and mother of three daughters, passed away peacefully at home at the age of 85. Ruth was born on September 9, 1935 in Telfair County, Georgia to James Dewey Jones, Sr. and Annie Louise Bennett Jones of Lumber City, Georgia. She was a passionate educator of young children for 35 years before retirement and touched the lives of countless young people in her career as an elementary school teacher. On November 28th, 1958 she married Riley Bruce Herndon. Those close to them for their 53 years of marriage would affectionately describe them as the perfect team. Together they raised three daughters, Lori (Brian), Janet, and Beth (Joe), and had five grandchildren: Luke, Melissa (Dalton), Diana, Joey, and Rachel. Ruth was an active member of Plantation United Methodist Church in Plantation, Florida for many years, and was known for her generosity, compassion, and quick wit. Her children and grandchildren fondly remember her southern charm and matter of fact “one liners” that left everyone in the room with a smile. She was a dedicated mother and grandmother who put the needs of her family above all else. Ruth was preceded in death by her loving husband, Bruce, her father and mother, and her brother, James Dewey Jones, Jr. of Hazlehurst, Georgia. She is survived by her three children, five grandchildren, and her sisters, Betty Brown and Bennie Stapleton of Lumber City, Georgia. A private funeral service will be livestreamed for others to attend Sunday, February 28th, at T.M. Ralph Funeral Home at 12 o’clock p.m. EST. **Funeral Service Video Link Graveside Video Link In lieu of flowers, please donate to Meals on Wheels (https://apps.mowsoflo.org/donate-now). Please add a special tribute to designate in memory of Annie Ruth Herndon. Or to Florida United Methodist Foundation (https://www.fumf.org/development-fund-online-deposit/). Please select ‘Make this gift on behalf of an organization’ and type ‘Future Generations fund in memory of Annie Ruth Herndon’.