Ruth Akins

Ruth Williams Akins, age 87, of Cunningham, TN went to her Heavenly home on Monday, January 16, 2023 surrounded by her family and friends.

Celebration of Life will be held 2 p.m Thursday, January 19, 2023 with Rev. Gary Akins officiating. Burial will follow at Lone Oak Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Thursday from 11 a.m. until the hour of service at the funeral home.

Ruth was born on May 26, 1935 in Clarksville, TN to the late James “Buster-Big Daddy” Williams and Emma Lee “Big Momma” Meacham Williams. Much could be written about her life of 87 years. She was a hard, dedicated worker all her life. She was a woman of great strength and will, who loved her family very deeply. She worked at Acme Boot, as many did. She and her husband, Bill opened a daycare for children and operated for over ten years. She was Mama Ruth to many children and their parents. After she and Bill closed the daycare, they turned it into a donation center. They spent many weekends passing out and giving away what they had collected to people in need for no charge. Mama retired from the school system as a teacher’s aide for 18 years. She loved her church, and she loved the fellowship of God’s people. Even at the age of 87 and declining health, she was still involved in the Christmas Choir and always tried to assist her church and give honor to the Lord. She never missed a service unless sick, which was very rarely. She loved her family and friends with a great passion, and it can’t go without saying that she had a passion for cooking and feeding people. Mama Ruth and Papa Bill have prepared over thousands of meals to feed whomever for whatever reason. She will be greatly missed by her children and some very close friends who affectionately called her Mas.

In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her husband of 64 years, Bill Akins; son, Eddie “Dubby” Akins; grandson, Matt McCurdy; son-in-law, Andy McCurdy; daughter-in-law, Lisa Akins; granddaughter, Emily Scrabatz; great-granddaughter, Alana Kate Young, and eleven siblings.

Survivors include her children, Gary (Raini) Akins, Pam (Larry) Halliday, and Mike Akins; grandchildren, Christi Holt, Tammy Sanchez, Brandon McCurdy, Dalton Akins, Mollie Young, Ashley Turner, Amber Akins, Dane Smith and 11 great-grandchildren.

Pallbearers will be Garrett Holt, Dalton Akins, Brandon McCurdy, Ralph Holt, Terry Abbott, and Dane Smith.

The family would like to extend a special thanks to those who helped minster to mama and the family during her last few weeks here in this world as she made her transition to her eternal life.

A Very special thanks to Hospice, Christ Fellowship Church, and Terry and Doris Abbott and their family who were faithful and devoted to Mama until the very end. Mama and her family says: Thank you.

In lieu of flowers, donations to her church or a charity in honor of Mama’s name would be more beneficial to someone.

Online condolences may be made at www.NaveFuneralHomes.com

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