Ruth (Barnes) Grist

Mrs. Ruth Barnes Grist, 86, of Chula passed away on Monday, December 2, 2019 at Tift Regional Medical Center.

Funeral services will be held Friday, December 6, 2019 at 2:00 PM in the chapel of Albritton Funeral Directors with Rev. Jeff Grist and Rev. Dan Eidson officiating. Eulogy to be given by her granddaughter Ashley Williams. Interment to follow in Oakridge Cemetery. The family will receive friends Thursday, December 5, 2019 from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at the funeral home.

Matthew Driggers, Greg Williams, Corey Fountain, Bryan Thomas, Joe Nance, Jeff Grist, Kyle Grist and Derek Grist will serve as pallbearers.

Mrs. Grist was born December 23, 1932 in Birmingham, Alabama to the late Berry Bulis Barnes and Fannie Orick Barnes. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Leroy Grist, Sr., who died May 23, 1998 to whom she was married for thirty-six years at his death. Mrs. Grist was a loving homemaker and a member of First Baptist Church of Chula. She had lived in Tift County since 1973. She and her husband owned and operated Ga Vegetable Company for many years and were members of many agricultural associations. Mrs. Grist was a loving mother, grandmother and great grandmother. Mrs. Ruth was an avid Atlanta Braves fan who enjoyed shopping, traveling and fishing on the St. John’s River. She loved the Lord and one of the highlights of her life was visiting the Holy Land.

Mrs. Grist is survived by her son and daughter-in-law Billy and Karen Thomas of Chula; her daughter Shay Grist Kennedy of Tifton; step-son and daughter-in-law Bobby and Sharon Grist; six grandchildren Bryan Thomas, Lyndsey  Stribling, Lasey Thomas, Lauren and Corey Fountain, Ashley and Greg Williams and Matthew and Anna Driggers; two step grandchildren Derek and Amy Grist and Kyle and Candace Grist; thirteen great grandchildren Riley Williams, Reese Williams, Ridley Williams, Hadley Driggers, Griffin Driggers, Heidi Thomas, Chloe Thomas, Lyla Stribling, Olivia Thomas, Hayden Thomas, Lillianna Fountain, Savanna Fountain and Brady Fountain; five step great grandchildren Mason, Miley and Marlee Grist and Harper and Hunter Grist; one sister Berry Sewell of Ormond Beach, Florida.

Flowers accepted or donations may be made to Backpack Buddies, c/o Northside Baptist Church, 4605 Murray Ave., Tifton, Ga. 31794

Albritton Funeral Directors is in charge of the arrangements.