Mary Ruth Crook was a disciple of Christ until her death on October 16, 2015. During her lifetime Mary Ruth was a wife and mother, pastor and minister, teacher, poet, musician, humanitarian and peacemaker. She was a friend to the friendless, a voice for those who had no power to speak, and an instrument of reconciliation for those who could find no peace. She was food to the hungry, shelter to the homeless, comfort to the sick, and music to those without joy. She took care of His lambs. Mary Ruth was upbeat, sparkling, cheerful, content and playful. She was open and accepting. Her priorities in life were faith, discipleship, and fellowship. Her pleasures were her family, her years spent teaching, her poetry, and her friendships.
Mary Ruth was a long-time choir member and choir chaplain at Pullen Memorial Baptist Church. She also served on the Board of Deacons, and was the first woman to serve as Chairperson of the Board of Deacons of a church in the North Carolina Baptist State Convention. She taught Sunday school, designed over forty worship banners, and served on many of Pullen’s mission/outreach committees. She served on committees of the Raleigh Baptist Association and was a trustee for five terms at the North Carolina Baptist Children’s Homes. She often traveled abroad in the service of Christ, most notably to the Republic of Georgia, former Soviet Union, where she lectured at the University of Tbilisi. She also attended Baptist Peace Fellowship meetings in the United States, Scandinavia and Canada. Over the years her travels took her throughout the United States, Central and South America, Europe, and western Asia - and even spending time in Cuba. It was around her kitchen table in 1989 with the pastor of the First Baptist Church of Matanzas, Cuba that the idea for Pullen's sister-church relationship was hatched. It is a relationship that still stands strong. In all of her journeys, whether sponsored or personal, she took her faith with her. In 1999 Mary Ruth, jointly with her husband, Roger, was recognized by the American Baptist Churches USA and presented with the Edwin T. Dahlberg Peace Award for "more than 50 years of national and international peace and justice work”. Noted in particular were efforts to “promote positive relationships with the citizens of Cuba and the former Soviet Union and her role in founding the Baptist Peace Fellowship of North Carolina.”
Mary Ruth taught English at Cary High School for over 21 years, retiring in 1984. She is remembered by one of her sons as “a thespian reborn as a journalism teacher.” While there she sponsored the Society for Better Human Understanding, a student-led group which worked for racial reconciliation during public school integration in the 1960s. For many years she took groups of students from Cary High School on study programs in Great Britain. They not only gained an appreciation of literature, but they broadened their outlook on the world. She was recognized as the Wake County Teacher of the Year in 1976. After retirement from teaching Mary Ruth was able to devote serious time to her writing and published several volumes for friends and family. Her writing has also been published in the Biblical Recorder, the North Carolina English Teacher, the English Journal, the Journal of the National Education Association and English Language Arts Curriculum Guide.
Mary Ruth was the mother of six sons. They note that she must have felt overwhelmed at times, but they never sensed that from her. Family gatherings at her house became more important as the boys married and grandchildren came. And even with the crowd of Crooks overflowing the house she would invite extended family, friends, those without family and acquaintances from her travels. She was intent on improving and enriching lives, asking nothing in return. She was a champion for civil and human rights, teaching her sons that all people are created equal.
Mary Ruth was born in Jacksonville, Florida in 1922. She earned a BA in English and Speech/Drama at Florida State College for Women (now Florida State University) and a Master of Religious Education at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. She is survived by Roger, her husband of seventy years, the love of her life and her partner in peacemaking. Among her legacies are six sons and daughters-in-law (David and Kaye Crook of Hartsville SC, Joseph and Laura Crook of Cary, John and Connie Crook of Wilmington, James Crook and Kim Karriker of Raleigh, Bryan and Donna Crook of Cary, Stephen and Kathy Crook of Raleigh), nine grandchildren, eight great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and countless numbers around the world whose lives she touched and made better. She told one of her grandchildren that if she had had a daughter she would have named her “Joy”. That is fitting. She spent her life seeking and discovering joy in both the fantastic and the routine. Yes, Lord, you know that I love you. John 21:16
A memorial service will be held at Pullen Memorial Baptist Church at 1:00 PM on October 24, 2015, with a reception following. In lieu of flowers, Gifts may be made in her honor to The Hope Center at Pullen. 1801 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh NC 27605.
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