Obituary
Ruth Edna Peete, the beloved daughter of the late Bishop Robert C. Butts and Sarah Handshaw Butts was born on January 8, 1925 in Nansemond County, Virginia and was called home on Friday, October 5, 2007 in Baltimore, Maryland, at the tender age of 82. She grew up in a family full of love and dedication. Ruth was a strong believer in education; she graduated from Frederick Douglas High School in Baltimore and later trained to be a LPN. Ruth was an avid reader and appreciated the study of History. To describe Ruth Peete, you would use words like resilient, intelligent, compassionate, dedicated, and refined.
Ruth accepted Christ into her life at an early age and was a faithful life long member of the Apostolic Faith Church of God, Inc., in Baltimore, Maryland; she loved God and always kept the faith. She faithfully served as Sunday School teacher, secretary, Missionary Director, and pianist. Since the age of ten, she played the piano and sang for the church. She had the gift of perfect pitch and could play expertly by ear. Often times her fingers moved so quickly it was if she was just sitting there and the music played, this gift provided countless hours of enjoyment and dedication for her to God’s Kingdom.
In her early twenties, she used her extraordinary gift of song to sing professionally and toured with the Vashti Singers under the direction of Bishop Harry I. Williams. Where her soprano voice would sweetly bellow out songs such as: “When He Spoke: Oh that Man from Galilee;” and “I am going to Bury myself in my Jesus.”
On May 10, 1947, Ruth Butts was united in holy matrimony to the late Elder Eddie Peete, Jr. Their union produced a family of six children, Edwin, Naomi, Rena, Eddie Dallas, Stanley, and Rona. Ruth served as a diligent wife and mother, she stood strong in support of her family, allowing and encouraging them to be strong and mighty in the spirit of God.
While being a faithful servant in God’s Kingdom she also took time out to enjoy hobbies and interests such as needlepoint, embroidery, sewing, various crafts, and these things made her smile, relax, and allowed time for her to watch her children, and grandchildren learn and grow.
Ruth, a woman of strong Christian principles, was always prepared to handle life’s greatest challenges believing and knowing God would make a way. A soldier of Christ, a devoted mother, grandmother, a giving person with a nurturing spirit, and true friend is how she will always be remembered.
Her memory lives on through her eldest son Bishop Edwin Peete and wife Carole; her eldest daughter, Rev (Dr.) Naomi Peete; her second daughter, Rena “Elaine” Glover and husband Arthur, her second son Eddie Dallas Peete and wife Linda; her youngest son, Stanley Peete; and youngest daughter, Rona Weaver and husband Jeffrey; her grandchildren: Alicia, Doretha, Robert, Herbert, Maurice, Michelle, Eric, Angela, Kimberly, Lynette, Cheryl, Felinda, Rhea, and Ryan; 20 great grandchildren; her brother, John Butts; and a host of cousins, other relatives and many good friends.
