Mary Ruth Deforest

By every measure, Mary Ruth Little DeForest lived an extraordinary life. She was an accomplished healthcare leader, a devoted family member, and a loyal friend and neighbor. As she lived her life, Mary Ruth departed this earthly existence with dignity and grace with her family, friends, and caregivers by her side on July 27th, 2026.

She was 84 years of age.

Mary Ruth was born July 12th,1942 to John Yount Little and Mary Neile Burke Little in Taylorsville, NC. Along with her brother John Hayden and her mother, she joyously greeted her father upon his return from World War II.

Mary Ruth graduated from Concordia Day School, Newton Conover High School, Lees-McRae College, and Bowman Gray School of Medicine as a Registered Medical Records Librarian in 1963. She worked at the Medical College of Virginia and was Director of Medical Records at St Mary's Bon Secours in Richmond.

After years of public work, her independent and confident spirit led to the founding of her company MRD & Associates which provided medical records support to hospitals. She remained an active participant in the American Health Information Management Association on both the state and national level.

Mary Ruth was married to Dean DeForest who preceded her in death. They lived in the Ginter Park neighborhood of Richmond, VA always surrounded by the love of their dogs Samantha, Polo, and Lucy. She was a consummate cook and hostess, and she loved her flowers and gardens. Mary Ruth was a cradle Lutheran, a passionate Democrat, and she loved her travels especially to Hawaii and Switzerland.

As an eighth-generation North Carolinian, she was preceded in death by her parents, her brother John Hayden Little, her grandparents John Daniel and Eva Catherine Little and Hayden and Luda Burgess Burke.

Mary Ruth is survived by her brother Dr. Milton Daniel Little (Sherri), daughter Lee Ann DeForest, son Daniel DeForest (Andrea), Godson and Nephew John Burke Little, Sisters- in- law Sue Johnson Little and Terry Hansen, Nieces Sueann Garner Little (Dave), Lynn Kolacz (Steve), granddaughters Brooklyn and Mackenzie DeForest, great nephew Josh Bovee, and a number of Cousins as well as longtime friend Pat Mays.

Gravesite services of the Lutheran Committal of Cremains will be held at the Little Family Plot at Saint Stephen's Lutheran MS Cemetery in Hickory, NC. This service will be on October 3rd, 2026, at 1:00 pm.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to:

For the Love of Poodles and Pooches Rescue (FLOP)

Gifts can be made on the website www.floprva.org or by mail to:

FLOP

2496 Hillstream Dr.

Rockville, VA 23146

Chapters Health Hospice

10330 Staples Mill Rd. Suite 204

Glen Allen, VA 23060

www.chaptershealth.org