Mary Ruth Freeman Fletcher

Mary Ruth Freeman Fletcher, 101, was born in White County, Georgia, March 22, 1923, passed on December 14, 2024, at Brookdale Senior Living, New Hope. The family moved to Gastonia when she was a young girl in 1926 during the roaring 1920’s. The family lived in the Mutual Mill village and attended Temple Baptist Church almost from its inception in 1926, her final years with Fairview Baptist Church. She soon after accepted Christ as her savior in an old-fashioned tent meeting in Dallas NC. She spoke of this often and shared her testimony of it as often as she could. She also began falling in love with southern gospel; especially the old hymns of the faith and sang them so often. Her most favorite hymn was “Victory in Jesus”. She shared that when she got saved, she had eternal victory in Jesus. Ruth began her textile career in 1939 in the Mutual Mill and later the Trenton Mill with Delmar Window Coverings – where she retired in 1985 after 46 years. She was also a longtime model for the Smart Shop, a ladies’ store on Main Avenue, in downtown Gastonia and today the location of a downtown Bakery. “We had the best selection of ladies’ clothes”, remembers Ruth. “It was so much fun to work in downtown Gastonia.” A few things beyond work she loved to do were to be an avid Bible reader and teacher of the word not just by speaking it, but by showing the example of Christ in all she did and spoke. Her actions exemplified the word. She would say, “the word is a living word, so live it each day so others see Jesus in you.” She thoroughly enjoyed social time with family and friends around a good southern made meal or snack, discussing life topics and living one of her favorite phrases of “enjoying watching the world go by”. Another favorite tradition was going to the mountains and the beach, to enjoy God’s creation and tell stories of her childhood and create more memories with her late husband Paul, late son James and surviving son, Marshall and family members. Her favorite phrase was, “I’m a child of the king”. She believed as his child to always look the best you can because you represent Jesus and what he’s done in your life. That meant ALWAYS having her fingernails and toe nails polished red. Red not only looked good but was a way to share her faith and the victory she had in Jesus, who shed his blood for her salvation. A main stay of her philosophy of life followed directly from God’s holy word. Galatians 5:22 (NIV) breaks down the most essential and core Christian values of Ruth, in detail. The verse reads: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Her favorite spiritual song became “Where we’ll never grow old”. She always knew and proclaimed that when her life here is done, she will be with him in the land where she’ll never grow old. She is survived by her, Brother: James Vernon “Dee” Freeman of Gastonia. Son: Marshall Lee Fletcher and wife Carla of Gastonia. Grandsons: Andrew James “AJ” Fletcher, Benjamin Marshall “Ben” Fletcher. Granddaughter: Carol Stephenson. Great grandson: Clinton Stephenson. Great granddaughter: Bella Stephenson. Close extended family and friends, Regis Andrew and Sandra Puczylowski Urik of Fayetteville and Glen Regis Urik, his wife Paola and their two sons, Rafael and Joshua of Germany. Many loved cousins, nieces, and nephews. Ruth is preceded in death by her parents, Alfred Benjamin Freeman and Mabel Wells Freeman, husband, Paul Lee Fletcher, and her son, James Horace “Satch” Fletcher, also her siblings, Curtis L. Freeman, Harold M. Freeman, Horace T. Freeman, Bobby C. Freeman, Nannie J. Crane and Annie S. Poole. Final arrangement was held privately. 

Memorials may be made to VIA Health Partners, PO Box 470408, Charlotte, NC 28247 Withers and Whisenant Funeral Home and Cremation Service, 2916 Union Road, Gastonia, NC (704) 864-5144 is serving the family. Online condolences may be made at: www.withersandwhisenantfuneral.com