Ruth Brown Rivers

Ruth Rivers was born on May 6, 1925 to John Henry and Hannah Brown on Smithton, Arkansas. At an early age Ruth was baptized and became a member of Eastern Start Baptist Church. She attended school in Smithton and later attended Bell High School.

Ruth began a new chapter in her life and traveled north and settled in Chicago. She joined in Holy Matrimony on June 23, 1953 to Henry Sam Rivers who preceded her in death. To this union four blessings were born; Samuel, Kenneth, Rosetta and John. Ruth was a dedicated and a very loving wife, mother, grandmother great-grandmother, aunt and mother-in-law.

Ruth was a faithful member of Union Missionary Baptist Church until her health began to fail.

Ruth worked for the Board of Education, Jenner Grammar School and Waller High School from 1967 until 1991, she was known as the Butter Cookie Lady.

Ruth was preceded in death by her husband Sam Rivers; her parents, John Henry and Hannah Brown; eight siblings, Richard Lee Brown John Henry, Jr., Howard Brown, Sr., Minnie Mae Brown, Geola Brown Hart, JD Brown, Freddie Lee Brown, and Lillie Mae Brown; brother-in-law, Willie Lee Lock and Grady Hart; sister-in-law, Marie Brown, Willie Marie Brown, Katherine Tidwell-Brown, Shirley Brown and Patricia Brown.

She leaves to cherish memories wit Samuel Rivers (Angel), Kenneth Rivers (Kim), Rosetta Bankole and John H Rivers; her siblings, Hattie Mae Lock, Alfred Brown (Bonnie), Edward Brown (Betty) all of Smithton, Arkansas and Robert Brown of Little Rock, AR; grandchildren, Lateria, Keayra, Janelle, Chakera, Shauntel, Antwan and John, Jr; two great-grandchildren, Erica and Kamoran and a host of other relatives and friends.

Public visitation will be from noon until 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 18, 2021 at the funeral home. Service will be held graveside at Holly Grove Cemetery in Okolona, Arkansas on Friday, March 19, 2021 at 12 noon.