Ruth Pinckney Johnson

Ruth was born February 15, 1920 in Pinckney Colony, Bluffton, SC to Charles Cotesworth and Cynthia Langford Pinckney. She grew up there among eight brothers and sisters, dozens of aunts, uncles, cousins. She was a graduate of Bluffton High School. She has described Bluffton as one square mile with a post office in the middle of the “colony” being a separate entity. There she met her beloved husband James Joseph Johnson of Savannah. They were married in 1938. She often reflected with great pride, growing up during difficult times, the Great Depression and how everyone in the community supported one another with generosity and kindness. They also managed to have lots of fun while working hard.

Ruth worked for several years in her middle life at St Joseph’s Hospital, devoting most of her life to her family.

She was predeceased by her parents, her husband of 39 years, eight brothers and sisters and one son-in-law.

Ruth is survived by one son, James Joseph Johnson, Jr. and wife Karen of Marietta, Ga, three daughters, Mary Helen Carlton and husband Vernon of Winston Salem, Ruth “Pinky” Mattarazzo and deceased husband Frank of Rock Hill, SC, Ann Marie Enos and husband Danny of Charlotte, NC and nine grandchildren and three great grandchildren, numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.

The family will receive friends from 5:00 until 7:00 pm Wednesday at Fairhaven Funeral Home – Hubert C. Baker Chapel, Savannah. The rosary service will be held at 7:00 pm in the funeral home chapel. The Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 1:00 p.m, Thursday at the Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist conducted by Monsignor William O’Neill. Interment will follow in the Hillcrest Abbey-East.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to The Cathedral of Saint John The Baptist, 222 E Harris St., Savannah, Georgia 31401