Ruth Mabel Gragg

Ruth Mabel Gragg (July 11th, 1923 - December 12th, 2025) Ruth was a devoted mother, grandmother, sister, and faithful child of God. She was born on July 11, 1923, on Apple Tree Ridge. She was the beloved daughter of Walter and Ellis Gragg and lived a life marked by humility, strength, and unwavering faith. Ruth was the very picture of a true mountain woman; steady, resilient, and guided always by the Lord. Ruth was preceded in death by her loving husband, Ervin Odas Gragg, with whom she shared a deep and enduring love. Their devotion to one another was so strong that they once ran off to Tennessee to be married, beginning a lifelong partnership built on faith, hard work, and love. Together, they built their home on Pilot Ridge, where they raised their family, worked the land, and created a legacy of love that will endure for generations. Ruth was also preceded in death by her brothers, Rome, Howard, and Dallas; her sister, Ethel; and her daughters, Wanda Lambert and Margie Matheson, whom she carried forever in her heart. She is survived by her sisters, Irene, Alma, and Rachel, and by her loving children: Anna Story, Lucille Gragg Bolick, Margaret Hackney, Barbara Hodges (Bobby), Roger (Linda) Gragg, Douglas (Karen) Gragg, Danny (Deborah) Gragg and Kevin Jestes. Ruth was the proud matriarch of a vast and beautiful family, blessed with 148 grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren, each one deeply loved and cherished. From an early age, Ruth attended school at New Hopewell Baptist Church, where she later became a proud member. Her relationship with the Lord was the cornerstone of her life. Through both joy and hardship, her faith remained steadfast, and she lived her beliefs quietly but powerfully, showing Christ's love through her actions. Ruth's life was marked by honest labor and quiet sacrifice. She cooked on a wood cook stove, chopped her own wood, sewed clothes for her family, tended her garden, and cared for her home and mountainside with diligence and gratitude. Through those hard jobs, she showed us that work done with faith is a form of worship. Her perseverance, humility, and love shaped who we are today and will continue to guide generations to come. She found joy in the simple gifts God gave, reading His word, singing "The Tennessee Waltz," and watching the beautiful birds and squirrels that visited her feeders. Loving her family was her earthly calling, and serving the Lord was her lifelong purpose. The family would like to extend a special and heartfelt thank you to the compassionate team at Amorem Hospice and Palliative Care, whose special hearts, kindness, and devoted care comforted Ruth and supported our family during her final months. Your presence was a true blessing, and we will forever be grateful. Funeral service for Ruth Gragg will be held on Tuesday, December 16, 2025 at 1:00 pm in the New Hopewell Baptist Church. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the services at the church. Online condolences can be made at www.rsfh.net. The care of Ruth and her family has been entrusted to Reins-Sturdivant Funeral Home, 296 Ash Street Newland, NC 28657, (828) 733-2121. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Ruth, please visit our floral store.