Willie Ruth Veal

We regretfully announce the passing from this life, of Ms. Willie Ruth Veal, 86, a native and long-time resident of 1131 County Road 825, Wadley, Alabama.

Ms. Veal passed away on Friday morning, January 16, 2015 at the home of her close cousin and care-giver, Ms. Wanda Rowe, in Austell, Georgia after an extended illness.

Public viewing and visiting hours for Ms. Veal will be observed on Friday, January 23, 2015, after 12:00 noon.

The Funeral service will be held on Saturday afternoon, January 24, 2015, at 1:00 PM from the Mount Olive United Methodist Church, County Road 823, Wadley, Alabama 36276. The Pastor, Reverend William Crawford will officiate.

Burial will follow in the adjoining cemetery at Mount Olive United Methodist Church, Wadley, Alabama.

For updated obituary information, please visit Clark Memorial Funeral Service

Willie Ruth Veal was the second of three children - the loving and devoted daughter of the late Lorena (Rowe) and William Veal, born January 31, 1928. "Ruth" as she was called by her friends and loved ones, was born in the Dickert community, a settlement in the township of Wadley, Randolph County, Alabama. There was an older sister, Barbara (Veal) Burroughs, and another sibling who passed away as a young child. Willie Ruth devoted most of her lifetime in and around her home, except for periods when she was away at school, or boarding while teaching around the county and surrounding areas.

From the earliest of her existence, Ruth was a vital part of the Mount Olive United Methodist Church, there in the Dickert community. She joined the family of believers under "Profession of Faith", under the spiritual guidance of Reverend J.L.D. Knox. She was always a devoted, active and outspoken member of her church, contributing much to the progress and growth of Mount Olive. A steadfast United Methodist, she held many positions of importance including membership in the choir, recording secretary, church treasurer, and chairperson of the Pastor-Parish Relations Committee. Above and beyond her duties at Mount Olive, Willie Ruth was a visible and vocal part of the Roanoke Cooperative Parish of the United Methodist Church, in which she rendered loyal service as Recording Secretary.

Ms. Veal left her imprint on the lives of many youngsters throughout Randolph County, Alabama and Heard County, Georgia. She attended the Randolph County Training School, graduating in 1946. Between 1946 and 1961, she taught school all over Randolph County in such rural communities as Flint Hill, Woodville, Broughton Ridge, Nubbin Ridge, and Wadley. From 1947 to 1949, she attended Booker T. Washington Business College in Birmingham, Alabama, graduating with honors in 1949; there she received the Certificate in Secretarial Science. For a period of time, she wrote life insurance for Booker T. Washington and Vulcan Life Insurance Companies. After graduation, she continued to work for Randolph County Board of Education later interrupting her employment again to attend Alabama State University (Montgomery, Alabama). At ASU, she served as Dormitory Counselor of Albercrombie Hall, and Financial Secretary of the Student Christian Association. She received the Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education from Alabama State University in 1965. Her longest stay in the teaching field was in Heard County, Georgia, where she taught at Mary Johnson High School, and Heard Elementary School. She worked at almost every level of education, including, Special Education, Kindergarten, and Chapter I Programs. Following a long and distinguished career as an educator, Ruth retired from the Heard County Board of Education in June of 1993. Her retirement was one of the great moments in her life. It was a time when many of her closest and best friends were present to help usher her into a new phase of her life - retirement.

Ruth was a supporter of many worthy causes, including the North Alabama Conference of the United Methodist Church, the N.A.A.C.P., the Georgia Association of Educators, and Food Alabama, among many others.

Willie Ruth never married; yet her life was filled with activity... church, school, friends, and family. She wanted people to know and to always remember her as one who loved people, and who loved to work with people. She felt that these were her greatest attributes as an individual. Her love for people was evident in the life that she lived and the joy she scattered throughout our community. We will always remember Willie Ruth as a totally fulfilled out-going and happy and concerned person who has always known who she is, and where she stands. She was a woman full of strength. She was independent and self-sufficient person who made her own way in life and fared well - never complaining - but always doing.

She is one who has known hardship and struggle, but learned to bear them with a smile. During the lifetime of her parents, she was a loving and devoted daughter, who went the very last mile of the way. She was genuine. And served as an inspiration to many. To know Ruth, was to love Ruth.

Ruth has many loving cousins who have been very close to her and she always acknowledged them and honored them. Her cousin and care-taker, Wanda Rowe and son Devon Parker (wife Karissa) of Austell, Georgia, who were all instrumental in her care; James Phillips (Mary), Deborah Reese and Linda (Paige) Stewart all of Roanoke, Alabama; Pamela Reese, Teresa Reese, Michael Reese, Wayne Reese and Mark Rowe all of Wadley, Alabama; Elsie White, Doris Rowe and Hazel Rowe (Polly) all of Fort Pierce, Florida; Louise Purder of Huntsville, Alabama; Ruby Dell Staples and Margaret Arnold, both of Kansas City, Missouri, and Nathaniel Phillips of LaGrange, Georgia.

This is her life story as told to Charlotte A. Clark-Frieson, December 21, 1993.

For updated obituary information, please visit Clark Memorial Funeral Service

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