Ruth Burke Brown

Ruth Burke Brown was born October 19, 1940, in Colquitt, Georgia, to Willie R. Burke Sr. and Gracie Hayes Burke.  She was the oldest of thirteen children.  Ruth transitioned to her Eternal Rest on November 23, 2022.  She was preceded in death by her parents, her loving husband Chester Brown Sr., her bonus son Michael Brown, and three brothers Willie Roosevelt Burke Jr., John Lewis Burke and Melvin Bernard Burke.

Ruth accepted CHRIST at an early age and joined Pilgrim Rest African Methodist Episcopal Church in the Pine Hill Community of Decatur County, Georgia.  Years later she joined Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist Church, located on Martin Luther King Jr. Drive in Bainbridge, Georgia.  After leaving there, she joined Life Church of Bainbridge, where she remained until she was no longer able to attend.

Ruth received her primary education at Saint Mary School in Colquitt and her secondary education at Carver Middle School in Albany, Georgia, and graduated from Hutto High School in Bainbridge.  Later in life, she attended Bainbridge College and was a graduate of the Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Program; upon completion of her required hours, she received her license and certification.

On July 25, 1961, Ruth married the love of her life, Chester Brown Sr.  To this union were born two children, Cherrylon and Candace.

Ruth worked at ITT Automotive in Bainbridge and Cairo, Georgia, until it closed down.  She loved to cook, so she decided to open her own restaurant and named it Mrs. B’s Kitchen.  The restaurant served soul food prepared with love and served with a smile.  After nineteen years of serving the public, she closed the doors of Mrs. B’s Kitchen in June 2005 due to her declining health.

Ruth is survived by her daughters Cherrylon Brown and Candance Brown McGriff (Greg), both of Bainbridge, GA; three bonus children Chester Brown Jr., Carol Brown, both of Farmington Hills, MI, and Sharon Brown of Cross City, FL; three grandchildren Annisa Allen Gore (Elijah) of Nashville, TN, Ivy Malone and Iris Malone, both of Warner Robins, GA; one great grandchild Ariya Saxon of Warner Robins, GA; six sisters Juanita Burke Sargent, Effie Burke Montgomery (Johnny), Sharon Burke Hopkins, all of Bainbridge, Lillie Burke Pinckney (Arthur) of South Plainfield, NJ, Betty Burke Risher of Newark, NJ, and Phyllis Burke Hailey (Albert Jr.) of Dothan, AL; three brothers Harold Turner Burke (Kathy) of Perry, GA, Richard Roger Burke of Bainbridge, and Freddie Eugene Burke (Brenda) of Sayreville, NJ; one aunt Rosa Lippett Burke of Bainbridge, GA; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.