Ruth Alberta Shands

Sunday morning March 16, 2025, our dear departed Ruth Alberta Gist Shands went home to Glory to be her precious Lord. Her spirit now sits among the ancestors who have crossed over before her. Born on a farm in Jonesville SC to Fant and Hettie Adelle (Glenn) Gist on the Fourth of July in 1944, she was the 8th child and 3rd daughter in a loving family of 11 siblings. Within this family and community, she was nurtured to be both God-fearing and fun loving. She joined Jerusalem Baptist Church in Jonesville SC at young age. Within its walls she learned about the Lord as she grew up with devoted friends and family.
She attended the public schools of Union County SC until she was 15. That year her family moved away from the family farm to the town of Pacolet. She attended and graduated from Benjamin E. Mayes Consolidated School in Pacolet Mills in 1963.
She briefly attended Denmark Technical College until she married her high school sweetheart, Lonzo Shands, in 1964. During their 30 years of marriage, they raised their two daughters Vonda Renee and Roxanne Ruedean as they traveled around the country and England. Although they eventually parted, but they always cherished the beautiful legacy of children and grandchildren.
Ruth worked in Early Childhood and Daycare for over 40 years. This career started in her home as a military wife who wanted to help other military moms who worked away from home. She then started working at preschools in the Summerville SC area including The Good Shepherd and Oakbrook Child Development Center. She spent those years nurturing young people with firm but loving care. She was known for her good cooking, playing table games, sewing, and spirited sense of humor.
Ruth kept the Christian faith that she was nurtured in as she moved throughout her life. During her life she affiliated with Chapels of the Air Force Bases she lived on, New Light Baptist Church, Rantoul IL, Bethel A.M.E. Church Summerville, SC and Fellowship of Oak Brook Summerville SC.
One of the special characteristics that Ruth was known for was creating and extending her family by opening her home to people that she felt needed an extra "Mama or Grandma" She had several God-children Leslie Jones, Larissa Smith, Nicholas Yerger. She had several friends that she embraced as "adopted" family who she loved with all her heart, Greg Miley, Candy Layman- Ford, Tameka Jones Salley, Crystal Denise Creel, Jenna Rebekah Creel and Adaviyan "JoJo" Dawkins.
Ruth lived her life making many indelible memories for her loved ones to keep. She loved cooking large delicious meals for her natural and extended family and friends to enjoy. She had an extraordinary gift for sewing anything from tailored suits to quilts. Her own personal style included colorful flowery dresses and African attire. She loved traveling and going on cruises.
Ruth was preceded in death by her parents; one sister Ruedean Gist Gregg; six brothers Fant Jr., Nelson, James, Charles, Douglas and Willie Lee; and two nephews Fred D. Smith and Stacy Gist.
Left behind to celebrate her life are her two daughters Vonda Shands and Roxanne Shands Bossie; three sisters Ruby Bertha Gist, Roberta (Les) Jones, and Frances De Lois Gist; her five grandchildren; Anarys Dawn Bossie, Willie Bossie III, Alonzo Harris Bossie, Anabel Lucretia Craft, and Anthony Alberta Jayden Shands; three great-children Lyric Charm Alexander, Diana Hazel Joy McNealy, and Sebastian Blue Alexander (who was born the day before Ruth passed way.) and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends, who will miss her dearly.
"She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness" (Proverbs 31:27)
The family will receive friends at 390 Dogwood Circle, Pacolet, SC. Arrangements are entrusted to Community Mortuary Inc., 102 Marion Avenue, Spartanburg, SC.
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