Ruth Worsham

Ruth Elaine Burgin Worsham, 97, passed away peacefully on Saturday, December 26, 2020, at Haywood Lodge in Waynesville.

Ruth was born February 11, 1923, in Waynesville. She was one of eight children of William Hurst and Beulah Haynes Burgin and was preceded in death by her beloved husband Doug Worsham, along-time civic leader in Waynesville, her son Tommy Worsham, son-in-law John Howell, and siblings Pat Green, Peggy Sue Griffin, Bill Burgin, and Charlie Burgin.  Ruth was raised in Haywood County and attended Waynesville Township High School and Brevard Junior College. After raising her family of four children, she graduated from Western Carolina University with a Master’s Degree in Elementary Education and then taught in the Haywood County Schools for 25 years, predominantly at Central Elementary.  She was a lifelong member of First Baptist Church in Waynesville where she was a Sunday School teacher, Choir member, and a loyal servant in youth, music, and numerous other ministries.  Ruth was a doting grandmother to seven grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren, all of whom called her ‘O-too’, a name that also caught on with numerous youth at church and throughout town. Ruth was a fantastic cook, famous for her homemade bread, pimento cheese, and freezer jams, Sunday family dinners, and decadent desserts, just to name a very few. She had a green thumb and raised her own vegetable and rose gardens. She also was a versatile craftswoman and loved to sew, do needlework, and make baskets. She unfailingly attended special events, graduations, recitals, and concerts for her grandchildren. She was an absolutely perfect mom and grandmother and set a wonderful example of Christian faith for her entire family and community.

She is survived by her children, George Ronald Worsham (Sheryl) of Greensboro, Patricia Alt (Dan) of Richburg, South Carolina, and Jean Howell of Kure Beach/Waynesville; and two sisters, Becky Jo Glance, of Ormond Beach, Florida and Alice Marie McCann of Dunwoody, Georgia

A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, December 29, 2020, at the Waynesville Chapel of Wells Funeral Home. The Reverend Doctor Robert Prince will officiate. Interment will follow at Green Hill Cemetery.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to all the staff at Haywood Lodge for their devoted care of Ruth over the last 7 years.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests for memorials to be made in Ruth Worsham’s name to First Baptist Church of Waynesville at P.O. Box 690, Waynesville NC 28786.

The care of Ms. Worsham has been entrusted to Wells Funeral Homes.