Ruth Shipp Martin

Ruth was a native of Marion County, Buena Vista, Georgia - the seventh of eleven children born to the union of the late Howard and Elizabeth McCrary Shipp on January 11, 1924.

Ruth attended public elementary and high schools in Marion County, Buena Vista, GA. She matriculated at Fort Valley State College from 1943 - 1947, and graduated with a B.S. Degree in Home Economics Education with a Minor in Science. She studied further at Texas A & M and the University of Georgia.

She taught Home Economics at Washington High School in Blakely, Georgia for four years. In 1951, she accepted the position of County Extension Agent with the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Service in Wilcox County. After transferring to Camden County, Woodbine, Georgia, she continued that career which lasted thirty years, retiring in 1982.

While teaching in Blakely, Georgia, Ruth met her husband, English teacher, Joseph Benjamin Martin. They were joined in marriage on December 29, 1951, and enjoyed a happy union of thirty-nine years, until his death on February 3, 1991. Mrs. Martin and her late husband are the parents of Joanna Jones, Lizella, Georgia, and Pamela Edwards, De Funiak Springs, Florida.

Mrs. Martin was a dedicated servant of the Lord who was committed not only to worship, but also to the service of others through ministry and community volunteer work. While living in Woodbine, Georgia she was an active member of Madison Chapel AME Church. Upon moving from Woodbine, Georgia to Macon, Georgia in 1997, she joined St. Paul AME Church. At St. Paul, she continued her steadfast and dedicated service through several ministries and organizations such as the Steward Board, Haddock-Lissimore Women’s Missionary Society, the Chancel Choir, the Combined Choir, and attended Sunday school, and bible study regularly. She also enjoyed singing with the Pinegate Angels – a choral group formed during her residence at Pinegate Retirement Community.

Other organizational memberships and involvement included the Georgia Retired Educators Association (Life Member), Bibb County Retired Educators Association, Fort Valley State University Alumni Association, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., (Life Member), The Macon Chapter of The Links, Inc., (Alumni Member) and The Retired Cooperative Extension Service Association. Mrs. Martin's volunteer work included service on the Boards of United Way, Hospice of S.E. Georgia, Macon Advocates for Education, The American Red Cross, Manners & Etiquette training at Burdell Elementary School, reading at L.H. Williams Elementary School and volunteering as a mentor at the Middle Georgia Youth Development Center. Mrs. Martin is known by all for her extraordinary sewing craftsmanship and her expert culinary skills.

Mrs. Martin was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph Benjamin Martin. Deceased siblings include Howard Shipp, Jr., Mary Duncanson, Madie Cooke, and Edith Childers. She is survived by siblings; James Shipp, Gene Shipp, and Matthew Shipp; daughters Pamela Edwards, Joanna Jones (Melvin); seven grandchildren - Genesis Franklin, Joseph Franklin, Joshua Franklin, Jeremiah Franklin, Jonathan Franklin, Douglas Jones, and Derek Jones (Shanda); two great-grandchildren; Carmen Williams-Jones and Peyton Jones; Nephews - Robert Duncanson, Ronald Miller (Patti), Melvin Shipp (Michele), Matthew Shipp, Jr. (Delia), Nieces; Dorothy Duncanson, Sylvania Cooke, and Patricia Shipp May (Gordon), and great-nieces, Amira May Woodruff (Warren), Carissa May, Elizabeth Shipp McQueary (Brad) and Gael Kuskie (Brent).

A memorial service and visitation will be on Friday, April 24, 2015, from 6:30 – 8:30 pm at Macon Memorial Park Funeral Home, 3969 Mercer University Drive, Macon, GA 31216. A celebration of life service will be held at Saint Paul African Methodist Episcopal Church, 2501 Shurling Drive, Macon, GA 31217, on Saturday, April 25, 2015, at 11:00 am, with the Reverend Michael G. Ephraim, Sr. officiating. The family suggests that in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Pine Point Hospice & Palliative Care, 6261 Peake Road, Macon, GA 31210. 478-633-5660.

Visit www.maconmp.com to share condolences.

Macon Memorial Park and Cemetery has charge of the arrangements.