Ruth Delories King

Ruth Delories Hall was born on January 21, 1936, in Creola, Alabama. She is preceded in death by her husband, Abraham; parents, Tom Hall and Rachel Cheatum Hall; all her siblings: Charles Hall, John Hall, Naomi Hall, Ruther Hall, and Ella Mae Peterson; and her beloved son-in-law Arthur Pertile III.

Ruth spent her childhood enjoying a “country” upbringing in Creola. She faithfully attended Starlight Baptist Church where she accepted Christ at a young age.

As God pre-ordained, Ruth was on her way to a music lesson when she caught the eye of Abraham, a handsome young man from Grove Hill, Alabama. Ruth and Abraham married on August 13, 1960. Shortly afterward, they found their way to the “big city” of Houston, Texas where Ruth pursued her passion for educating children. She obtained both a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and a Master of Education from Texas Southern University.

Ruth started her teaching career with the Houston Independent School District (HISD) in 1959, with a first-grade assignment at Gregory School, now Gregory-Lincoln Education Center. She took a leave of absence to give birth to Renita in 1963, and then she, Abraham, and Renita welcomed Sonia in 1968. That same year Ruth headed to Oran M. Roberts Elementary to teach second grade. In 1973 Ruth was featured in local media as an Outstanding Elementary Teacher of America. When in stores and restaurants, she absolutely loved occasionally running into former students who would proudly exclaim with a big hug, “Mrs. King! You were my second-grade teacher!” Ruth retired from HISD in 2001 after 33 years of exemplary service at Roberts, marking the end of a remarkable 42-year teaching career.

Ruth’s culinary skills were amazing. Her legendary cornbread dressing with shredded turkey sealed the deal with her future son-in-law Arthur. Renita still believes Ruth’s dressing is the real reason he married her. Ruth also mastered the art of preserving the bounty from Abraham’s prolific gardens. The refrigerator-sized freezer at their Rosehaven Drive home was always chock-full of Abraham’s mustards, collards, okra, and purple hull peas that Ruth had meticulously prepped for future family dinners.

In retirement, Ruth enjoyed traveling, including two Gospel cruises, and several "Sampson trips" organized by Deacon Walter Sampson at Jerusalem Missionary Baptist Church. After she and Abraham joined Jerusalem in the 1960s under the tutelage of the late Rev. David Leon Everett, II, Ruth remained a faithful and active member until her health prevented her from attending. She was a longstanding member of The Voices of Jerusalem choir, the Concerned Parents of Jerusalem, "By His Love" ministries, and the Jerusalem Educational Scholarship Committee (which she chaired for several years). "Granny" to Arthur Pertile IV, Ruth made "Granny School" for her only grandson a fun and educational summer tradition during his elementary school summer breaks - a tradition punctuated with trips to Food Town in Pearland. Granny welcomed with open arms Arthur's four legged son, his dog King, the first dog for both of them.

In recent years, Ruth enjoyed staying close to home, starting every single day with a bowl of fresh fruit, an appreciation for life, and celebrating every day as a gift. She cherished holidays and birthdays, spending time with family, and regularly watching her favorite TV shows (Judge Judy, Family Feud with Steve Harvey, and The Tamron Hall Show).

A self-described "tough cookie" and a breast cancer survivor, Mama has always been a source of strength and inspiration in countless ways. Two of the most devastating circumstances when her faithfulness and fortitude carried us were: in 2019, when Sonia lost her fiancé Steve; and in 2025, when Renita lost her husband Arthur (at the same age as Ruth lost Abraham on her birthday in 1998). Mama's faith walk after Abraham's passing has been one of the innumerable blessings God has given us through her.

Mama will always be cherished and missed by those she leaves behind, including her devoted daughters Sonia, Renita, and Beverly; her devoted grandson Arthur IV; her best friends Dorothy Brailsford Carraway and Henrietta Logans; and a host of other family, friends, and former students.

Visitation will be held at Jerusalem Missionary Baptist Church, 2201 Tuam St., Houston, TX 77004, US, on September 25, 2026, from 11:00 am to 11:45 am.

A Funeral Service will be held at Jerusalem Missionary Baptist Church, 2201 Tuam St, Houston, TX 77004, US, on September 25, 2026, from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm.

A Committal Service will be held at Paradise Cemetery South, 2237 Cullen Blvd, Pearland, TX 77581, US, on September 25, 2026, from 2:00 pm to 2:30 pm.