Willie R. Salter

God in his infinite wisdom called home his faithful servant, Ms. Willie Ruth Salter, 60, of 620 Windham St., Apt. 10, Petersburg, Va., on Monday, Nov. 8, 2010, at 1:10 p.m. at Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital in Albany, Ga.

Ruth "Ru-baby," as she was so affectionately called, was born on Nov. 11, 1949, to the late Mr. Joe Salter Jr., and Mother Minnie L. Williams Salter-Merritt in Terrell County, Dawson, Ga.

Ruth was proceeded in death by her father, Mr. Joe Salter Jr.; grandmother, Mary L. Salter; maternal grandmother, Mary C. Williams; maternal grandfather, Jimmy L. Williams; stepfather, Charlie Merritt; aunt, Flayzell Howard; and brother, Joseph L. Salter.

Ruth accepted Christ at an early age at Sardis Missionary Baptist Church in Dawson, Ga. In 1970, she became a member of Calvary Temple Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Petersburg, Va., under the leadership of Apostle Wesley M. Taylor Sr. She was baptized and filled with the Holy Ghost while at Calvary Temple (Mt. Calvary). She moved to Albany, Ga., in 1998 and joined Apostolic Church of Jesus Inc., under the leadership of Elder Franklin Smith. She moved back to Virginia in 2008 and joined Calvary Outreach Revival Center, under the leadership of District Elder Irving S. Taylor. Ruth loved the Lord and would do whatever she could do to benefit the growth of the ministry.

Her passion was for her four grandchildren, The "K" Kids. They were her pride and joy, as well as her two daughters. She had an infectious laugh that would fill the room; very seldom did she have a frown on her face. She was loved by many and was known as "Mama Ruth" to a lot of people. She will be greatly missed.

She leaves to cherish her memories, a devoted and loving mother, Minnie L. Merritt of Petersburg, Va; two loving and devoted daughters, Laticia Salter of Petersburg, Va., and LeChele Salter of Albany, Ga.; four beautiful grandchildren, Keirah, Kaion III, Kennedy and Kamran; two brothers, Bobby E. Salter (Ellen) of Dinwiddie, Va., and Robert Peterson (Mary) of Philadelphia, Pa.; two sisters, Kathy A. Merritt of Prince George, Va. and Cecelia A. Heath of Colonial Heights, Va.; loving and devoted nieces, Qiana Merritt of Petersburg, Va.; NaTasha Heath of Colonial Heights, Va.; Tonia and Nicole Salter of Hopewell, Va.; two nephews, Terrell Heath of Newport News, Va., and Quan Merritt of Prince George, Va.; one sister-in-law, Doris A. Salter of Ettrick, Va.; her aunts whom she loved dearly, Johnnie Belle Kitchens of Atlanta, Ga.; Ella Shorter of Orange, N.J., and Frances Brannon of Newark, N.J.; special cousins, Lois Kitchens of Atlanta, Ga., and Anna Rouse of Fayetteville, N.C.; longtime friends, Harold and Bernadine Anderson of Dawson, Ga.; Barbara Raines of Petersburg, Va.; Sandra Wallace of Albany, Ga.; Sarah Holley of Anchorage, Ala., Juliette Slaton of Albany, Ga., and Ola Smith of Albany, Ga. A host of aunts, nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.

A funeral service will be held 2 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 16, 2010, at Calvary Temple Church, 110 N. Dunlop St., Petersburg, Va., Apostle Wesley Taylor, pastor and District Elder Irving S. Taylor, eulogist. The interment to follow at Southlawn Memorial Park.

The family will receive friends from 6 to 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 15, 2010, at the funeral establishment.

The family will receive friends at 6801 Birchette Drive, Prince George, Va., and may be contacted by calling (804) 458-1677.

Family members and friends are invited to pay final tribute to Sister Salter online at www.jmwilkersonsince1874.com where you may view a video tribute online or at the establishment.

Funeral arrangements entrusted to the staff of J.M. Wilkerson Funeral Establishment, Inc., 102 South Ave., Petersburg, VA, (804) 732-8911, www.jmwilkersonsince1874.com.