Ms. Ruth Harmon Reeves

Ruth grew up in Spartanburg, South Carolina, alongside her parents and her brother, Sam, and sister, Helen. From an early age, her life was shaped by faith and family, as she attended First Baptist Church with those she loved and became a follower of Jesus there. Her church and family gave her an enduring foundation that guided her with steady devotion throughout the years.

After high school, Ruth graduated from Spartanburg Junior College, and paid her way by working in the office. Her diligence and commitment opened doors, and she had imagined remaining there to become a professor. Life took a defining turn, however, when she met her future husband, Robert “Gene” Reeves, in December 1960. They were married on December 23, 1961, while Gene was in the Air Force.

Together, Ruth and Gene built a life marked by loyalty, service, and shared purpose. They built a house together in Tryon, North Carolina. They then moved to Charlotte, North Carolina, where Gene went to work for The Clorox Company. It was in Charlotte that their children, Leigh and Robby, were born. During those years, Ruth and Gene attended and served at The Hillcrest Baptist Church. Later, Gene’s transfer brought them to Atlanta, and they made their home in Tucker, where they lived for 55 years.

In Tucker, Ruth served at The First Baptist Church as a teacher of children, youth, and adults, offering her time with quiet strength and a generous spirit. She also devoted years of service to The Nicholas House, an organization that cares for homeless families. Her work reflected her deep compassion and steadfast belief in caring for others in practical, meaningful ways.

Ruth’s life was also enriched by the shared interests she cultivated with Gene. She supported him in the many activities that mattered to him, including his extensive leadership at the First Baptist Church in Tucker. Together, they enjoyed antique cars as collectors and restorers, participating in several car clubs where Ruth served in many capacities. Through those clubs and their many activities, Ruth traveled to most of the United States with friends, embracing the fellowship and the experiences that came with an active life.

Through Gene’s 31 years of employment with The Clorox Company, Ruth also traveled to many places outside the United States. Looking back, she recognized with gratitude that, because of Gene’s wide-ranging interests and involvement, her life became far more active and far-reaching than she would have ever imagined as a young woman growing up in Spartanburg, South Carolina.

Ruth was preceded in death by her father, Samuel Harmon; her mother, Jennie Harmon; her brother, Sam Harmon; and her sister, Helen Harrelson.

She is survived by her husband, Gene Reeves; her daughter, Leigh Pope (Jeff); her son, Robby Reeves (Julie); her grandsons, Collin Reeves (Krystal), Carter Reeves (Victoria), and Caleb Reeves (Hannah), Brian Pope (Taylor), and Robert Pope (Rhiannon); her granddaughter, Caroline Reeves; and her nephew, Henry Harrelson.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Ruth's memory to Hospice Atlanta or Main Street Church Preschool.