Ruth Justice

Waynesville, Ruth Southerland Justice, age 80, of Big Cove Road, passed away on Friday, January 23, 2015 at Haywood Regional Medical Center. A native and lifelong resident of Haywood County, she was the daughter of the late Annie Mae Burgess McClure. In addition to her mother, she was preceded in death by her first husband and father of her children, James Perry Southerland Sr. who died in 1964; a son, Walter Southerland; two grandsons, Jody and Steven Southerland; and a half brother, James Southerland, Jr. She retired from Lea Industries after 20 years employment and was a proud member of Fellowship Baptist Church. Ruth had a dedicated work ethic displayed by her desire to earn her GED while continuing to work and raise her family. She will be remembered as one who lived out her faith by teaching her family Christian values and unconditional love. She is survived by her large loving family including: husband, Thomas Jake Justice Sr.; her children, Wilma Lemanek (Joe) and Daisy Clark of Waynesville and Tulia Kahley (Jim) of Ladson, South Carolina, Carl Southerland (Saralyn) of Canton and Thomas J. Justice, Jr. (Shay) of Clyde; siblings, Hazel Herren of Candler, Eva Putnam of Newport, Tennessee, Bobby Southerland (Joyce) of Clyde and Floyd Southerland (Teresa) of Waynesville; daughter-in-law, Patsy Southerland of Clyde; 14 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; and 4 great-great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 28 at Fellowship Baptist Church with Reverend Philip Brooks and Reverend Jerry Nelson officiating. Burial will follow at Garrett-Hillcrest Memorial Park. The family will receive friends from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday at Wells Funeral Home of Waynesville. Memorials may be made to Fellowship Baptist Church, 232 Mauney Cove Road, Waynesville, NC 28786.

Previous Events