Ruth Lee Rigsby Culpepper

Born February 18, 1916, Ruth Lee Rigsby Culpepper died at age 98 on June 9, 2014. Visitation will be 5-7 p.m. at Striffler-Hamby, 4071 Macon Road (St. Elmo Room), on Thursday, June 12, and a Memorial Service will be at 2 p.m., Friday, June 13, at East Highland United Methodist Church. Interment follow the service at Parkhill Cemetery. The Reverend Mark Sasser will officiate.

Mrs. Culpepper was the daughter of James Ervin and Mary Jane Martin Rigsby both of whom predeceased her. One of six children, she is survived by one sister, Frances Rigsby Griffin of Columbus. Ruth lived in Columbus her entire life and attended local schools, graduating Industrial High School (Jordan) in 1934.

On February 15, 1935, she married Joseph Oman Culpepper and they had three children: Joseph Eugene Culpepper of Doraville; Ronald Lee Culpepper (Julia) of Columbus; and Barbara Kay Culpepper Hill (Louis) of Colorado Springs, Colorado. She is survived by eight grandchildren: Sharon Capers (Frank), Jennifer Whitley (John), Scott Culpepper, Mike Hill (Dixie), Kim DeGraaf (Ken), Laura Martin (Scott), Amy Bull (Andy), and Carol Seal (Scott). She is also survived by 21 great-grandchildren, one great-great grandchild, and numerous nieces and nephews.

At the time of her death, Ruth was the oldest member as well as the one who had been a member the longest of East Highland United Methodist Church. She is known fondly as Granny not only to her family but also to hundreds of men and women to whom she and her husband served as youth counselors. Numerous of these entered into full-time Christian ministry partly because of the influence the Culpeppers had on their lives. Ruth and her aunt, Jonnie Kidd, served for many years, even into their 90's, in the kitchen each Wednesday for the East Highland mission lunches.

Although most of her life she was a homemaker, Ruth was employed by the Muscogee County Board of Education food service 1965-1981 serving as assistant cafeteria manager at Clubview Elementary and as manager at Rigdon Road Elementary. Throughout her life, she was known for her recipes and cooking. An avid Braves fan, she cheered them on, win or lose. One of her fondest memories was the calls from all her grandchildren the night the Braves won the World Series. Even though the hour was late, they knew Granny would be rooting her team to victory.

The family is grateful for the loving and competent care provided by the following: Joyce Roberts and her staff at Magnolia Manor Assisted Living, Azalea Trace Nursing Home, St. Francis Hospital, Dr. Banks Carroll, and Columbus Hospice. Memorials may be made to East Highland United Methodist Church, 1301 17th Avenue, Columbus, Georgia, 31901.