Ruthie L. Johnson

Ruthie L. Johnson (80) was born in Jacksonville, FL to John H. Stallings Sr. and Mary E. Scott on 12 July 1942. She was the third of seven children born to this union. She entered into eternal rest and peace of God’s kingdom surrounded by her family on 20 February 2023.

She was raised in New Ellenton, SC until age 15. In 1957, the family moved to Cincinnati, OH where she attended Hughes High School.

In 1962, she married Ezekiel “Buddy” Matthews and to this union two children, Denise and Richard were born. Later, in 1966, she married, Louis E. Johnson and had one son Ryan Sr.

She was a lover of children and worked in the childcare industry for 40 plus years in Ohio. In 2006, she moved to Virginia to be with her daughter and worked with the STOP Organization – Head Start program until her retirement.

Ruthie was a lovable, yet out spoken person. She said what she thought, but meant no harm to anyone. Her intent was to uplift and teach in order to make you the best version of yourself. She never met a stranger and greeted everyone with a big hug and smile.

In her younger years, she was a real Spitfire, aka Bully, and the self-appointed protector of the family. She would often fight anyone, anywhere who messed with her siblings for any reason. But, later fight her siblings for not defending themselves and making her have to do it.

A devoted Mother, daughter and sister, Ruthie was preceded in death by her parents, youngest brother, John Jr. and grandson Kevon Matthews.

She leaves to cherish her precious memories: her children, Denise and Richard Matthews, Ryan Johnson Sr., Adopted Daughters Sheila Vernon and Belinda Daniels; two brothers, Eddie and Leroy (Annie) Stallings; three sisters, Ada Thompson, Lucille Crowell, all from Cincinnati, OH and Daisy Layne from Grovetown, GA; Adopted siblings, Walter and Loretta Ewing from Chesapeake, VA; four grandchildren, Fionn and Teonka Matthews, Ryan Jr. and Tevon Johnson, and 11 great-grandchildren: Mia, Winter, Mario, Dustin, Deontae, Aniya, A’lani, Nehemiah, Najiah, Nevaeh and Darren. A host of nieces, nephews, cousins, in-laws, and friends.