Mrs. Ruth T. Moton
Ruth Thelma Stallworth was born at home on April 26, 1928 in Fish Pond, Alabama to William Mack Stallworth and Louisiana Moye Magby of Conecuh County, AL.
She accepted Christ into her life at an early age and was a long-time and faithful member of St. Peter Baptist Church.
She was educated in Brewton and attended Southern Normal High School. Ruth graduated in 1948.
Ruth spent most of her professional career working at University Hospital Cleveland as a nursing aid on the adolescent psychiatric unit where she most often worked nights and made life-long friends.
She was united in marriage to Claude Moton on June 26, 1948; to this union two children were born. In the early 1950’s the couple joined the Great Migration north first relocating to Boston, MA and later settled in Cleveland, OH where they would live for the next nearly 40 years. Ruth gave birth to Gerald C. Moton in 1949 and Clark M. Moton in 1951 and also raised Whitt Arnold. She is remembered for her seemingly endless energy and tenacious spirit which was displayed at the height of the Civil Rights Era. On more than one occasion while traveling through the “Jim Crow” South, Ruth dressed her children in their “Sunday best”, took her family to one of the finest but still segregated restaurants in Lexington, KY, remarked, “They’re going to feed my babies,” and saw to it that her family was served.
After retiring in the late 1980’s Ruth and Claude returned to Alabama and settled on the family homestead in Pollard, AL. Ruth enjoyed sewing, quilting, card games like Gin rummy and gardening. She was well known for her cooking and quick wit. In her later years she enjoyed regular visits from friends, family and caregivers.
Ruth Thelma Stallworth Moton may have been small in stature, but she left a lasting and large impression on all who knew and loved her. She passed away peacefully the morning of November 23, 2019 in Pensacola, FL at the age of 91.
Ruth is preceded in her homegoing by her husband, of more than 60 years, Claude Moton as well as her sisters, Lodee Magby Jackson, Mary Magby Lee, Mattie Avant Henderson, Hermine Stallworth Drakeford and her brothers, John Avant and Calvin Avant Sr. She is survived by her sister, Arine Stallworth Jackson (James) and her sister-in-law, Janie Avant, all of Brewton, AL; as well as her sons, Gerald Moton (Carla) of Richmond, TX and Clark Moton Sr. (Cheryl) of Pollard, AL; her adopted son, Whitt Arnold; her grandchildren, Clark Moton Jr., Erick Moton, Laura Moton Whitley, Matthew Moton and Joshua Moton as well as eight great grandchildren and numerous nephews, nieces, cousins and many close friends.
The family of Ruth Thelma Moton acknowledges with sincere thanks for the many acts of kindness and love shown throughout her illness and death. The family would also like to thank and acknowledge Ruth’s devoted team of care givers of the last few years, several special individuals as well as the staff of Your Life of Pensacola and Emerald Coast Hospice for their compassionate care. May God continue to bless and keep each of you.