Ida Ruth Smith Sosebee, 98, died on November 17, 2014 in Demorest, Georgia.
She was born on April 13, 1916. Ruth was the oldest of eight children of May Flowers Woodward Smith and John Isaac Smith. She attended Piedmont College and taught primary grades in Rabun and Habersham counties. She was preceded in death by her husband S.Y. Sosebee and an infant son, Sidney Sosebee, as well as her brothers, Isaac Newton Smith, Orville Wayne Smith, John Jackson Smith, Frank Lloyd Smith, William Ralph Smith, and a sister, Nellie May Smith James. Surviving are her daughter and son-in-law, Margaret Eufaula and John W. Merkley, granddaughters and husbands, Melinda and Brian King, Laura and James Morris, four great grandchildren, Oliver and Isaac King and Michaela and Mason Morris, a sister, Susie Bell Smith Raper, three sisters-in-law, Verna Mae Kilby Smith, Eloise Burrell Smith, and Myrt Nations Smith, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Ruth was the oldest living member of Habersham Baptist Church where she was active for many years as a Sunday school teacher, and was a member of the social committee, the missionary society and the Young at Hearts. She was known in the community for her wonderful Halloween parties. Ruth was an avid gardener and enjoyed sharing plants and trees. She created and sent hundreds of handmade pressed flower cards to friends and family.
Visitation will be held at Hillside Memorial Chapel from 6 to 8 PM on Tuesday, November 25 and on Wednesday, November 26 from 10 to 11AM. The funeral will be at Hillside on Wednesday, November 26 at 11 AM with the Rev. Melinda Merkley King officiating. Committal will follow in the Habersham Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Habersham Baptist Church, 506 Old Habersham Mills Road, Demorest, GA 30535 or to The Salvation Army, 306 East Franklin Street, Toccoa, GA 30577.
An online guest registry is available at hillsidememorialchapel.com.
Funeral arrangements by Hillside Memorial Chapel, Clarkesville. 706-754-6256
