Ruth Doretha (Sanders) Rankin

Ruth Doretha Sanders Rankin, 85 years old, formerly of Glory Road, Mooresville NC, passed away on Tuesday, March 15, 2022 at Lake Norman Regional Medical Center. She was born on March 20, 1936, in Mecklenburg County to the late Ada Blackwelder. At an early age, she joined Bethesda A. M. E. Zion Church, Mooresville, NC. During her formative years she attended Rowan County Schools and ended at the Unity High School. She worked at Fieldcrest Cannon Textile Company for a short time, but the care of her children and family took precedent therefore she became a domestic homemaker. 

In November 1970, after many years of marriage she joined the Mount Tabor Presbyterian Church. She immediately began working with the Presbyterian Women and assisted each year with the Vacation Bible School. She loved preparing food for the yearly fall picnics and watching the softball games. She enjoyed cooking, canning and later in life watching her favorite judge shows and SBN. For church or family reunions she would prepare the following dishes: candied yams, yeast rolls, green beans, apple or peach cobbler and her special rendition of sweet potato cobbler. She loved to share her talents with the community and always gave food to neighbors and friends. She was a natural homemaker and carried out an unforgettable touch to everyone she encountered in her presence. 

In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her two daughters: Patricia Ann Rankin and Ernestine Lavon Rankin, sister Lucille Wall.

Those remain to cherish the fond memories are her husband, Scott Reid Rankin, children: Margaret (Alvin) Russell, Mooreville, NC; Scott (LaVarr) Rankin, Kannapolis, NC; Carolyn Rankin, Mooresville, NC; Dennis (Debra) Rankin, Columbia, SC and Sharon (Parnell) Still; Salisbury, NC. Grand-Children; Chavis Barringer, Delphin Sherrill, Marcus Sherrill, Vicco Barringer, Scott A. Rankin, Jermaine Barringer, Rashaad Rankin, Dennis E. Rankin Jr. and Xavier Still, Monique Brown, Shauntaye Rankin, Kamila Rankin, and Shaquela Still and 24 Great-Grandchildren. Special cousins- Tonda Blackwelder (Mike) Taylor, Margaret McConnuighey, Marie Williams, Reginia (Perry) Smith, Jerod Sanders and Gwendolyn Sanders. In-laws- Mary L. Parker, Ada Graham, Geneva Pearson, Jay (Doris) Glaspy and Donald (Juanita) Glaspy. God Children- Valerie (Jeff) Watkins, Betty (Charles) Wilson, Bridgett (Eric) Luckey, Bishop Gene (Willie)Roseman, Rev. Jerry Brown, Ricky (Deborah) Walker, Rev. LaVerne D. Spears, Laura (Velvie) Gray, and Cindy (Martin) Rogers. Phone Encouragers- Ruth R. Rankin, Agnes Gamble, Mary M. Sherrill, Lucy Mills and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, church families and friends.

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