Ruth Bassett

1939 - 2025

Her last table has been set.

It is with the heaviest of broken hearts that her five adoring children inform you of the passing of their gorgeous and beloved mother, Ruth Jones Bassett on the evening of Friday August 22, 2025, in Wrightsville Beach. She was surrounded by her children, her pup Colby, and her brother David, and with so much love, as she passed peacefully to the sound of the ocean, in her happy place, Sandpiper Cottage.

It is difficult to find words to adequately describe the essence of her and the amazingly good life she led. She was dedicated to family and invited family into her home on every holiday. Her grandson Hunter, who is now 28, still refers to her home in Martinsville as the "Christmas House". She simply had a flair for turning every birthday, every holiday, every family gathering into a special occasion, particularly with her creative tablescapes. Her children have promised each other they will continue in her honor her tradition of gathering and setting the table for the occasion as much as they possibly can. She would love it.

Her passion was flower gardening, particularly roses. She was a lifelong member of the Martinsville Garden Club where she was recognized for her floral arrangements, and for which she won numerous awards representing Martinsville in Garden Club of Virginia events.

Ruth was also a member of the Charity League of Martinsville, a service organization for whom she enjoyed volunteering during much of her life.

Additionally, Ruth was a founding member of the Carlisle School, in Axton, Virginia, and served on the school's Board of Trustees.

Ruth Jones Bassett was born in Martinsville, Virginia to amazing parents, Dr. George Louis Jones, Sr. ("Big Daddy") and Margaret Wilson Jones ("Margee") both of whom predeceased her. She was the eldest of their three children, and is survived by both her brothers, George Louis Jones, Jr. and David Churchill Jones, and his wife, Karen Jones, all of Martinsville.

She graduated from Martinsville High School and attended Sweet Briar College in Virginia. Ruth left Sweet Briar to marry the love of her life, Charles Columbus Bassett III, on August 29, 1959. Charles passed away suddenly in 2009, leaving an unfillable hole in Ruth's life. The family is grateful that Ruth and Charles will now be celebrating their 66th wedding anniversary together later this week.

Ruth is survived by her five children, Margaret Bassett Harmon and her husband, Hans Petersen of Black Mountain, NC; Betsy Lee-Bassett Stevenson and her husband Walt Stevenson of Midlothian, VA; Hunter Bassett Turner of Midlothian, VA; Leigh Bassett Fatzinger and her husband, Hap Fatzinger of Wilmington, NC; and Chad Bassett and his wife Becky Bassett of Charlottesville, VA.

She is additionally survived by six grandchildren, Hunter Harmon, and his wife Kate Harmon, of Charlottesville, VA; Price Elwood, of Richmond, VA; Alex Turner, of New York City, NY; Will Fatzinger, of Wilmington, NC ; Charlie Fatzinger of Wilmington, NC; and Calvin Bassett, of Charlottesville, VA.

She was also fortunate to have a beautiful great granddaughter, Naomi Bland, of Midlothian, VA, and a great grandson, Kaiden Redford-Elwood of Glen Allen, VA, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her only granddaughter, Liza Elwood.

Ruth's memorial service will be held on Friday September 5th, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Martinsville, where she was a lifelong attending member of the church, followed immediately by a brief private family entombment at the Bassett Family Cemetery.

There will be a celebration of Ruth's life to follow, at 1:00 p.m. at Chatmoss Country Club and the family invites all to attend.

In lieu of flowers, and in support of her lifelong love of animals, memorials may be made to SPCA, 132 Joseph Martin Highway, in Martinsville.