Annie Ruth Bruton Johnson

Annie Ruth Bruton Johnson, a lifelong resident of North Carolina, died on Wednesday, January 24, 2018, at her residence at The Mann House in Atlanta, Georgia at the age of 99 years. Annie Ruth was born in Mt. Gilead, North Carolina on July 11, 1918, the daughter of V. Carr and Mary Haywood Bruton. She married her high school sweetheart, Robert Clayton Johnson, on March 29, 1941. Robert and Annie Ruth lived for many years in Hamlet, NC and then in Wilmington, NC until Robert's untimely death in 1975. Annie Ruth returned to Montgomery County, NC in 1978, living in Troy, NC for the next 33 years. Although Annie Ruth had hoped to reach her upcoming centennial birthday in July, she died just two weeks after reaching the half year mark this month. Her funeral service will be held at Trinity United Methodist Church in Troy, NC on Sunday, January 28 at 2 p.m. Visitation will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Pugh Funeral Home in Troy.

Annie Ruth is survived by her two daughters and sons-in-law, Mary Carr and William G. Bode of Toms River, New Jersey and Jeanne and Henry L. Bowden, Jr. of Atlanta. She is also survived by her three grandchildren: William G. Bode, Jr. of Long Island, NY, Henry L. Bowden III of Atlanta, and Caroline Bowden Stockdale and her husband Spencer Stockdale and their two children Elena and Nolan of Atlanta. Annie Ruth is also survived by a host of nieces and nephews and friends and their families. In addition to her husband and parents, Annie Ruth was pre-deceased by her two sisters and three brothers and by Robert's three sisters and brother and their spouses. Annie Ruth immensely loved her family and friends, and she was blessed in return by their constant love and support over the course of her long life.

Annie Ruth was a renowned cook and loved to share her cakes, candies, and her home-canned vegetables and jams with others. She was also an expert needle worker and craftsman. She sewed beautiful and perfectly tailored clothes for her daughters. She loved to play bridge. She and Robert loved to fish. Annie Ruth attended Meredith College and actively served the Methodist Church in many capacities over the course of her life. Most importantly, Annie Ruth was a good and kind person who gave tirelessly of herself to others. Annie Ruth's family will forever cherish her constant love, her clear direction and her unwavering encouragement of our dreams and aspirations.

Annie Ruth's family wishes to thank the group of wonderful ladies at The Mann House who embraced and cared for Annie Ruth during her final three years of life and appreciates the support given to her by Bristol Hospice. Memorial donations may be made to Trinity United Methodist Church, 239 North Russell Street, Troy, NC 27371.