Ruth Irene McFadden

Ruth Irene Brown-McFadden was born on July 28, 1924 in New Zion, South Carolina to the
late Robert Brown, and Katie McFadden-Brown. She received her formal education through
the Clarendon County Public School System.
Ruth met the love of her life, Hayward Benjamin McFadden in New Zion when they were
adolescents. They grew up in the same neighborhood, worked on the farm, in the field, and
attended school together. On March 6, 1948, they were wed in Holy Matrimony. From this
union, seven children were born.
Ruth received Christ in her life and was baptized at an early age. She attended the Howard
Chapel AME Church under the leadership of Pastor Davis and then Pastor Sims. She served
faithfully in the ministry and sang in the gospel choir. In 1956, she and "Ben" relocated to
Fort Lauderdale, FL. After moving, she became a member of Spiritual Church of God in Christ,
under the leadership of the late Bishop Gordon. In 1980, she joined the Universal Christian
Church of Christ under the leadership of Pastor James LaFavor. During her tenure at
Universal, Ruth diligently worked by singing and cooking. She served as an Usher and
Church Mother and remained active and faithful until her health declined.
Ruth loved serving the Lord and caring for her loved ones. She was a devoted Wife, Mother,
Grandmother, Sister, Aunt, Cousin, Caretaker and Friend. She loved to sing songs of Zion;
through her years of singing, she and her sisters formed a gospel group "The Brown Sisters".
She was a member of the Galilee Gospel Singers in the 1960s. A few of her favorite hymns
were: "I Know The Lord Will Make a Way"; "Traveling Shoes"; "He'll Understand and Say Well
Done, and "Any Way You Bless Me Lord". She was a Housekeeper, and a Seamstress, and
could sew anything once she had some Fabric, and a needle & thread. She loved to cook
and feed her family and community. There's not a man, woman, or child that lived in her
neighborhood that hasn't enjoyed the taste of her southern cooking. She was known for the
best sweet potato pies you could ever eat. Her life was measured by the impact she made
on everyone who encountered her.
On the afternoon of Tuesday, June 14, 2022, Ruth peacefully gave her last breath to her
savior in exchange for her heavenly wings.
She was preceded in death by her husband: Hayward Ben McFadden; three children:
Benjamin McFadden; Ruth McFadden-Brown; James Louis McFadden; and reared daughter,
Legatha McFadden. seven Siblings: Willie Brown; (Lizza); Charles Brown; (Georgetta);
Albert Brown; (Lillie Bell); Mary Smith (James); Donald Brown (Tina); Lue Ever McFadden
(Anthony); Mattie McFadden (Robert David) and Ivory Brown. Two Sisters-in-law: Odessie
Scott & Ruthie Bell McFadden-Stanley; Son in law: Roy Rattray
She leaves to cherish her memories, three sons: Clarence McFadden (Mary); Nathaniel
McFadden (Robin); and Melvin McFadden; 1 daughter who cared for her until the end,
Katie McFadden-Rattray, all of Fort Lauderdale, FL. One sister: Marion McFadden (Hazel), of
Baltimore, MD. Reared Sister: Ella Mae McFadden; of Pompano Beach, FL. One daughter in
law: Barbara Jean McFadden, of Ft. Lauderdale, FL; One son in law: Arthur Brown Sr, of Ft.
Lauderdale, FL. One Brother-in-Law: Roosevelt McFadden, of Baltimore, MD; five sisters in
law: Mildred McCray, of New Zion, SC; Grace Meritte (William) and Eula Eaddy (LeDon), of
Baltimore, MD; Nell Kennedy (Downy), of Orlando, FL; and Levolia Brown, of Ft. Lauderdale,
FL. 23 grandchildren; 67 great-grandchildren; 62 great-great grandchildren and a host of
nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.