Ruth Magdalene Young Wilson

WILSON, Ruth Magdalene Young, The incomparable Ms. Ruth Magdalene Young Wilson joined her Heavenly Father on Thursday, August 12, 2021 at 2 a.m. Ms. Wilson, also known as "Sister Ruth," was born in Bowling Green, Va. to Rev. Andrew P. Young and Mrs. Gertrude Nash Norman on January 12, 1927. She was the younger sister of Spurgeon "Doc" Young (deceased), a sports and entertainment writer. Ruth's life revolved around music, starting at the age of four when she was the accompanist for Sunday school at Shiloh Baptist Church, in Bowling Green, Va. By the age of six, she began her career as a church organist and wrote her first piece of music by the age of nine. Ms. Wilson graduated as Valedictorian of Union High School, magna cum laude from Hampton Institute (University) and received her master's in Music Education from the Teachers College at Columbia University. She also attended the Teachers College at VCU in Richmond, Va. She married John Arthur Wilson (deceased) shortly after undergraduate college and had two daughters. She celebrated almost 39 years in Music and English education, working in Dinwiddie, Manassas, Greensville and Caroline County, Va. She finished her teacher career at Caroline High School, where she was a multi-year winner of All-State Choir competitions and the composer of the school alma mater. Ms. Wilson also served as Worthy Matron for the Eastern Star – Welcome Chapter 129, OES, PHA. She was a life member of Pi Lambda Theta, served as president for the Caroline County Retired Teachers' Association, District A of the RTA, and the Va. RTA. When not celebrating and educating others, she served as the musician for a variety of churches spanning all religious arenas. A devout Christ follower, she believed each person was to be valued and encouraged to be their best self. Sister Ruth was sadly taken from us by COVID-related pneumonia. She leaves a legacy through her daughters, Patrica E. Wilson and Paula W. Smith; her grandchildren, Stephen Wilson, Stephanie Wells, Natasha Smith and Alexandra Smith-Scales; great-grandchildren Benjamin Locke, Isaiah Locke, Ricky Locke, Cora Wells, David Wells, Emma Wells, Frances Wells, Victoria Smith, Nathaniel Smith and Cassandra Smith; and one great-great-granddaughter, Taelynn Locke. Her life celebration will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, August 28 at Lakeside United Methodist Church. Due to the COVID resurgence, no reception will follow and masks are required. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Paula W. Smith to help with final expenses, the St. Labre Indian School, St. Joseph's Indian School, Southern Poverty Law Center or Hampton University.