Ruth Grace Mary Harrod's Obituary
Ruth Grace Mary Thomas Harrod, age 91, peacefully stepped into heaven to be with Jesus her Savior the morning of November 18, 2019. She was born November 15, 1928 in Maidenhead Berkshire England to Mr. and Mrs Hanbury Thomas. Married to Laurence Eugene Harrod she became a mother of her beloved children Christopher Mark, Heather Ruth and Adrian Shaun. Ruth was a devoted christian musician, She began her organ study at the age of fourteen in Great Britain under the direction of Fred Slater, ARCO Organist and Master of the choristers at Winchester Cathedral. She accompanied her sister who sang for the armed forces in the canteen during WWII. After coming to the United States, she studied for two years at Columbia Bible College in South Carolina where she was organist for the choir. She was also organist/choir director of the Green Street Methodist Church, Columbia, South Carolina.Ruth has enjoyed a beautiful career in church music serving as organist/choir director for Anglican, Methodist, Baptist and Presbyterian congregations throughout the United States and Great Britain. For almost 20 years she served as organist/music secretary at Colonial Baptist Church of Memphis. She was also organist/pianist at Colonial Cumberland Presbyterian Church of Memphis and retired after 16 years of service.Her life was a living example of love. She brought joy into every room she entered, with a sparkle in her eye. Her favorite Bible Verse is – John 3:16-17 – For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son that whosoever believes in Him should not parish, but have everlasting life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.Ruth is survived by a sister, Alice Brooker, brother, Roy Thomas, daughter Heather (Dan) Perkins, son Adrian (Nicci) Harrod,nine grandchildren – Michelle, Ally, Kate, Shaun, Jordan, Davy, Aiden, Janna and Jesse, and 2 great-grandchildren Jayden and Jordyn. The family would also like to thank all the wonderful caregivers from Unity Healthcare Services who loved her like their own mother specifically Tenny, Sharika, Britny, April, and Sheila.The family will receive friends at Memorial Park on Wednesday, November 20 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. with the service to be held at Colonial Baptist Church on Thursday, November 21 at 1:00 p.m.
What’s your fondest memory of Ruth?
What’s a lesson you learned from Ruth?
Share a story where Ruth's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Ruth you’ll never forget.
How did Ruth make you smile?