Ruth Melba Rigsby

With grateful hearts and deep love, the family of Ruth Melba Rigsby announces her peaceful passing on May 16, 2025, at the age of 94. Though we mourn her absence, we rejoice in the sure and living hope that she is now in the perfect peace and joy of her Savior, Jesus Christ.

Ruth was born in the small town of Fountain Bridge, Georgia, where she grew up in a loving home as one of nine children. Her father was a hardworking merchant who owned a local grocery store, and Ruth carried those same values of kindness, diligence, and generosity throughout her life. She is predeceased by all her siblings except for her beloved sister, Audrey Buchanan.

A devoted mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, Ruth poured out her love through acts of service, especially in the kitchen. Her homemade cakes, cookies, and dumplings were a delight to all—especially her grandchildren, who knew that every visit meant warmth, laughter, and something delicious to eat. She also enjoyed a long career as a medical analyst, and in her retirement, she found joy in simple pleasures like cooking, sharing stories, spending time with family, and involvement with her church.

Ruth was a woman of faith who trusted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior. Her life was marked by quiet strength, a servant’s heart, and a deep love for her family. As we grieve her passing, we do so with hope, knowing that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:8).

She is survived by her sons and daughters-in-law, Jerry & Brenda Rigsby and Terry & Marixa Rigsby, as well as six grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren, all of whom were blessed to be part of her remarkable legacy.

A funeral service to celebrate her life will be held at 11:00AM on May 21, 2025, in the Chapel of Way-Watson Funeral Home in Ellaville, GA, with Rev. David Rigsby and Rev. Joel Smith officiating. Burial will follow the service in Ellaville City Cemetery. The family will greet friends beginning at 10:30AM before the service.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Alzheimer’s Association in Ruth’s memory.