Ruth Speering Johnson, 79 formerly of Griffin, passed away on Wednesday, December 17, 2025, at Savannah Court of Milledgeville.
Ruth was born on June 1, 1946, in
Augusta, Georgia to the late Fred Lee Speering and the late Lillian Stewart Speering. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Jimmy Key Johnson, Jr; two sons, Mathew Timothy Johnson and James K. Johnson III; daughter, Angela Dawn Johnson.
Those left to cherish her memory are her daughter and son-in-law, Amy Ruth Zipkin (Art); grandson, Aaron Dunn; granddaughter, Meghan Dunn of Greenville, SC; step-mother, Leila R. Speering of Hephzibah, GA; brothers, Rev. Dr. David Speering of Asheboro, NC, Daniel Speering of Madisone, TN, Paul Speering of Huntsville, AL; sisters, Kathryn S. Baker of Hephzibah, GA, Joy Chaney of Harlem, GA; 13 nieces and nephews also survive.
Ruth was resilient. Always kind to others. Never met a stranger. Ruth was a comedian! She maintained her unique 'pulpit' sense of humor throughout everything life threw at her. Even when her body & mind began to betray her, she never missed a chance to crack jokes with her caregivers. She suffered from rapid decline of Parkinson's, but we know she died of a broken heart.
Ruth is at peace with her Savior in Heaven surrounded in pure love next to Jimmy and all her babies.
A dedicated living Memorial website at lovebeyondtime.net is being created so that her story will live on. As Amy processes all this, she will add Jimmy, James, Angela and Mathew; they will have a dedicated page on the same site. If you feel called to contribute to this project please send pictures, stories etc. to Amy's email
[email protected] and she will post on your behalf.
Amy would personally like to thank all the incredible people in Griffin who helped her through this dark season. The family is eternally grateful.
A graveside funeral service will be held on Saturday, January 24, 2026, at 11:00 A.M. at Oak Hill Cemetery where she will be laid to rest with her husband, Jimmy.