Sister Ruth A. L. Smith

Sister Ruth Amelia Lewis Smith, 99, was born February 29, 1924 in Unionville, VA. She was the daughter of Daisy and Eugene Lewis. Sister Ruth Lewis Smith, the Lewis Family matriarch died, Sunday, June 25, 2023 at the Knox County Nursing Home, Knoxville, IL after a five-week stay. Sister Smith was preceded in death by her parents and siblings: Lue Stanley Lewis, Edna Regina Lewis, Virginia Mae Ellis, George Herman Lewis and Naomi Claire Lewis; two younger siblings died at an early age, Otis and Mattie; two first cousins that were raised by Ruth’s mother following their mother’s death: Lottie Mae Lewis and Sally Grace Johnson and grandson, Matthew Lewis Scott (May 2023).

Sister Smith was educated in the Orange County Public Schools (VA). She was very smart especially in Math and very athletic. She excelled in home economics because her mother had taught her to sew, cook, iron, can, garden, raise farm animals and do all kinds of things needed to take care of a family and to earn money. If you ever talked to Sis Smith for more than 5 minutes, she proudly told you that she started working at the age of seven, washing dishes for a family in the community.

Sis Smith was a caregiver at an early age. Her father died of a heart attack when she was four years old. She was by her mother’s side as a youth, learning all the things that she used later in life. Unfortunately, her mother had colon cancer and Ruth was caregiver for her mother. She dropped out of high school to take care of her, the household and help with two younger siblings. After her mother’s death, she returned to school and graduated from Lightfoot School.

As a young adult she went to New York to be with her two older sisters and began doing domestic work, child-care, and sewing. She did whatever necessary to help take care of herself and her two children Douglass and Mattie. She married Thomas Leon Smith (deceased 2006) and to that union was born Ruth’s youngest daughter, Amelia. She didn’t feel that raising her children in New York was the best, so she sent them south to live in VA with her sister, Virginia (Aunt Jen). Although for many years, mom was separated from the children on a daily basis, she sent money for support, wrote letters, and took the train to be present for parent teacher conferences. She expected nothing but excellence from her children.

Her new career started in 1966 after completing Data Processing Certification. Her first job was at Manufacture’s Hanover Trust Bank in New York. Apparently when she applied for the job, in searching her background, she said that she was told that her grandfather was a trusted slave and therefore they believed she would do well. Later she worked in Philadelphia on the evening shift performing data entry for J.C. Penney’s. Her last job was one that brought her much joy, as a data processor supervisor and trainer for the University of Pennsylvania (U of P0.She received several promotions and a great deal of recognition.

What you might know about Ruth Smith, she wanted things done right, she didn’t take ‘no’ mess, and unlike many who just talk, she was always about the business of getting things done. She was as tough as nails. Sister Smith retired from U of P in 1986, a little earlier than she had planned to take care of her husband who had a debilitating stroke. They moved to Virginia, back to her birthplace community and lived in her Aunt Mattie Lewis’ homestead that became hers until 2015.

Although she was retired, now the work really began. Over the years, Sister Smith took care of her husband and at one time or another, her five siblings, some who needed extensive care. She didn’t have a nursing license but she was a nurse. In addition over the years she took in a number of individuals in her home until her daughter Mattie finally told her that it was time to stop running a nursing home.

In all that, Sister Smith found a way to remain active with her family and the community. She hosted at least four family reunions on her lawn with one year having 300 family members present. She was instrumental in organizing and preparing the food, including growing the potatoes for potato salad and the green beans. At Christmas she normally sent out at least 100 cards and for the family reunions she tirelessly followed up invitations with phone calls. Until recently she probably talked to 10-12 people daily.

Her community activities included: Lifetime membership in the NAACP where she served 12 years as the Orange County Virginia Branch president until 2015. She attended many annual and regional meetings. As a member of the Democratic Party she worked very hard on voter registration and worked at the voting polls every year. Sister Smith achieved the status as Worthy Matron in the Eastern Star organization.  She served as a member of the Wayland Blue Ridge Baptist Association. It was nothing for her to cook for 300 people and proudly served using china, silverware and glassware. She served on the Advisory Board of The Edna Lewis Foundation

She served on the Board for the Piedmont Hospice Program where she attended events and made donations of time and money. One of her other passions was the Habitat for Humanity where she also served on the Board. She had a special love for children and was determined to help children in the community of Orange VA to go to college. She started the Ruth Lewis Smith Scholarship Fund. For years she went to Lowe’s and local florists and obtained free plants. Then she had an afternoon for fun and food and auctioned these plants and the proceeds went to the scholarship fund. She was very proud of this accomplishment. Through the years she received recognition from all of the organizations for her service. Organizing anything was her niche. Her daughter Amelia said on one occasion that she hadn’t been to Hawaii because it didn’t need to be reorganized. She received many award and recognition from these organizations.

Church was very important in her life. She was baptized at a young age and became a member of the Bethel Baptist Church, Unionville VA. She fondly shared memories of loving Sunday school taught by Mr. Banks and always enjoyed church. Wherever she relocated to, she always found a church to attend, join and be active. When she returned to Virginia in1986 she resumed activity in the Bethel Baptist Church serving as church clerk, deaconess, church anniversary committee leader and all things that needed to be organized, church cemetery manager She was appointed as Mother of the Church at Bethel in 2013. Until recent years, she was also in charge of the family cemetery, keeping things organized and paying the taxes. If you knew Sister Smith, you could expect to see her fashionably dressed in her Sunday best with a matching hat of course.

In 2015 when she came to Galesburg to live with her daughter and son-in-law, Deacon Jerry and Mother Mattie Scott. She immediately became a faithful, tithe paying member of the Israel of God’s church. She did what she could to help at the church until her failing health wouldn’t allow her to be as active. She always wanted to attend evening service and Sunday service and conferences, most recently attending the Holy Semi-Annual Conference in Indianapolis April 2023.

Since her famous sister’s death in 2007, Chef Edna Lewis, she has served often as spokesperson for the family and providing information for authors of books and articles and those seeking information about her sister. When she and Edna were young, Sister Smith Served as Edna’s sous chef Café Nicholson restaurant in New York City, cleaning the shrimp and making chocolate soufflés.

Sister Smith in her own right was a great cook and baker, using the eggs from the chickens she raised and cooking with the vegetables and poultry she raised. Even when she came to Galesburg, her son-in-law took her to get a chicken house where for several years, she raised chickens, guineas and quail. Her friend, Bishop Taylor was one of few who went to the chicken house to watch her in action.

About her birthday: Sister Ruth would say she was a leap year baby. On her last birthday, she was 24. When she would tell people that they assumed she was confused. She was looking forward to her 100th/25th birthday in 2024.

Her favorite saying was to ‘respect’ everyone and she had a special love for children. She loved to travel by car and plane and especially by train. She loved people and she loved life. Upon awakening each day, she always thanked God for another day and for being in her right mind, knowing who she was and knowing who you were. Another saying was, you never know what coming into your life. She was very generous with what she had, be it a lot or a little. She loved family and sharing the rich family history. When she introduced herself, she proudly told you that she was Ruth Lewis Smith.

She was very proud of her children and all of her grandchildren and family, always encouraging them to do their best, and leaves to cherish her memory:

Children: Fredrick Douglass Boulware, Sterling VA, Mattie (Jerry) Scott , Galesburg, IL, Amelia Smith, Tucson AZ. Grandchildren: Robin White (Darren) Herndon, VA, Jerey McKinney (Keon), Bloomington, IL, Julianne Boulware, Gary IN, Fredrick Boulware IV, Indian Head, MD, Great-grandchildren: Joshua White Aurora, CO; Kendall McKinney, Bloomington IL and Great-great grandson Giovanni White, Aurora CO; Niece, Nina Mbengue and nephews Alvin Brown, Robert Thomas and Afeworki Paulos, sister -in-laws, Josephine Smith and Theodora Smith both of Macon, Ga. Special phone friends Barbara Black and Phyllis Highland, a host of cousins, church family and others who loved her.

The family of Sister Ruth Lewis Smith would like to express sincere gratitude to the Israel of God’s Church family, Dr. Kishorabi Patel and Staff Galesburg Clinic, Knox County Nursing Home, Knoxville, IL and the Orange VA. Community.

Visitation for Sister Ruth will be 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Wednesday, July 5, 2023 at Israel of God’s Church, 2147 Windish Dr., Galesburg. Funeral services will follow at 12:00 p.m. Rev. Harold L. Boyd, Pastor and Reverend Terrance Collins officiating. Additional services will be held in Louisa, Virginia where her earthly remains will be laid to rest at the Lewis Family Cemetery in Unionville, Virginia. Memorial contributions may be made to OSF Hospice, Habitat for Humanity, or to American Cancer Society.