She was a well-respected member of the Spring Garden Community and a member of Spring Garden Baptist Church where she faithfully attended and has a children's Sunday school class named in her honor. She held many positions and served on numerous committees over her years and although teaching children was her passion, she deeply enjoyed her senior adult class, prayer group and traveling with the seniors.

An avid outdoors lover, you could find her most days with a hoe or rake in her hand as she carefully tended her garden and yard, or pouring fresh water for the birds, squirrels and other animals who called her backyard home.

Cooking was one of her many talents and her family and friends will forever miss her homemade biscuits, collards and Italian cream cake. She displayed her love for others by cooking meals at every opportunity. Her kitchen table holds many memories of family, friends and neighborhood children.

She was truly the backbone of our family and deeply admired for her Christian faith and service. She loved everyone and those who were fortunate to know her, loved her as well.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Mark Smith and her son, Kenneth Mark Smith.

Surviving are her children, Margaret Smith Brown and husband Roger, and Violet Smith Pate, all of New Bern; six grandchildren, Sherry Wayne and husband Bruce, Roger Ray Brown II and wife Judy, Ellen Pate Corey and husband Scott, Larry Benjamin Pate III, Janet Pate Mannel and husband Mike, and Suzanne Walker; 15 great-grandchildren, Courtney Taylor and husband Wesley, Laura Peters and husband Joe, Bryan Wayne, Leann Brown, Tyler and Cameron Corey, Emma and Grace Pate , Petra Mannel, Jenna Walker, and Jalyn and Joshua Keel; and her great great-grandchildren, Alexis Brown, Milah Peters.

Family and friends will be received from 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2012, at Cotten Funeral Home. Services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2012, at the funeral home, followed by burial at Spring Garden Baptist Church Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Ruth's memory may be made to Spring Garden Baptist Church Building Fund.

Online condolences may be made to the Smith family at www.cottenfunerahome.com.

Arrangements are by Cotten Funeral Home.