Willie Ruth White

Willie “Ruth” White, the oldest daughter of the late Warren and Floretha Berry, was born May 20, 1932 in Allendale, SC. She departed this life on February 6, 2023 in the comfort of her home surrounded by her loved ones. Ruth spent her childhood and teenage years in Allendale, SC and later moved to Washington, DC to live with her extended family and to pursue a higher education. After one year of college, she met Samuel Lee White Sr (deceased), and they married in 1952. They went on to have five children, Bobby, Renee, Donald, Phyllis, and Jan. From this point, nothing was more important than her children. Ruth began working at the Walter Reed National Medical Center (formerly National Naval Medical Center) in 1966 as a Food Service worker and later a Food Service Manager in the Nutrition Management Department. Through her hands-on leadership style, she played a key role in the professional and personal growth of both military and civilian personnel. After dedicating 44 years of leadership, care, and public service, she retired on December 9, 2010. If you knew her as Ma, Grandma, Ruth or Ms. White, then you knew 3 things: • You’re going to eat good (and you better eat when she says it is time to eat) • You’re going to want for nothing (if she got it, you will have it) • You’re going leave every conversation with a laugh or a smile Ruth was everyone’s Ma or Grandma and enjoyed spending her time with family and friends. If she wasn’t cooking the full spread for Saturday breakfast or Sunday dinner, you could catch her planting flowers in her gardens, watering her rose bushes, taking a walk around the neighborhood, or sitting at the table eating her Big Mac and drinking her Ginger Ale. She always had a smile on her face. If you asked how she was doing, she would often reply, “I’m good, you good … Alright that’s all that matters.” She was an angel on Earth that will truly be missed by everyone. She was a true matriarch. Ruth leaves to cherish her memories, her sister Rosa Mae Edwards, her five children Bobby White, Patra “Renee” Lee (William), Samuel Lee “Donald” White Jr. (Valerie), Phyllis Frederick, Janis “Jan” Kelly (Charles); ten grandchildren, LeKisha (Delonta), Bobby II (Shawna), Chena, Dionne, Terresa (Antoine), Nathan (Lindy), Randrell, Ronika, Alexis, and Charles “Brandon“; 16 great grandchildren, and 14 great-great grandchildren. A host of nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.

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Willie Ruth White

May 20, 1932 - February 6, 2023