Ruthie Nelson

Ruthie Nelson was born on March 10, 1933, in Isola, 
Mississippi, to the late Foster and Lula Edwards. 
She confessed Christ at an early age and was baptized at Stranger 
Home Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of the late 
Reverend Crockett.
Ruthie came to Chicago at the age of eighteen. At the age of twenty￾four she married Willie James Foster of Chicago. From this union 
two children were born, Patricia Duckworth and Bettye Foster, 
who preceded her in death.
Ruthie and Columbus met in the spring of 1975 and married in 
November 1975. They shared a full and devoted life together for 
thirty-nine years until his death. 
Ruthie was a member of Greater Star Missionary Baptist Church 
under the leadership of the late Reverend Sanders. 
In 1991, Ruthie became a member of St. Rome Full Gospel Church 
under the leadership of Elder Ernestine Conner, singing in the 
choir until her illness. 
In 1995, Ruthie joined Push Coalition Choir under the leadership 
of Reverend Jessie Jackson. 
Ruthie worked at Zenith TV Corp. for fifteen years until they 
closed then work at the Chicago Locks Co. for fifteen years until 
her retirement.
Ruthie departed this life on September 6, 2022, at 7:40 AM, at St. 
Franciscan Hospital in Indiana. She was preceded in death by five 
brothers, Willie James, Boyse, Bernard, Jimmy, and Charles; one 
daughter, Bettye Foster; one grandchild; and one great-grandchild.
Ruthie leaves to cherish her memories: one sister, Elder Ernestine 
Conner; two daughters, Patricia Duckworth and Betty Young; 
one son, Bryant Nelson; twelve grandchildren; sixteen great￾grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; six generations 
of nieces and nephews; a very special friend, Jettie Turner of Push; 
and a host of relatives and friends.

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