Mother Mary Ruth Perry

Mary Ruth Gant Perry was born September 30, 1930, in Cottageville, South Carolina to the late Howell Gantt, Sr. and Margaret Fishburne Gantt Farmer. She peacefully departed this life on Saturday, April 13, 2024, at her residence in Cottageville, South Carolina.

Our Mother, affectionately known as “Tutter” attended Colleton County Schools. At an early age, she became a member of St. John AME Church in Cottageville, South Carolina. Through the years, She served as an usher and missionary. She had the distinction of being the “Mother of the Church.”

She was the matriarch and pillar of her family. She had a passion for cooking and preparing meals for anyone she encountered. She was enthusiastic about gardening and maintaining a beautiful yard. She enjoyed singing and was known as the “songbird” of our family.

Upon her children entering the public school system, she always made sure they were treated fairly. Her love for the family was unwavering and her personality was larger than life. When help was needed, she always made herself available. You always knew how much you were loved by her use of colorful language, sarcasm, and humor!

Our mother was preceded in death by her loving parents; stepfather, Herman Farmer; one sister, Cleo Pauls; two brothers, Henry Lee Gantt and Howell Gantt, Jr.; two sisters-in-law, Maryann and

Margaret Gantt; a nephew, Walter Smith and a daughter-in-law, Diane Mosley Gant.

She leaves to cherish her fond memories her loving children, Marjorie Perry, Samuel (Diane) Gant, Charles (Rose) Gant, Gale (Grady) Kidd, Dennis (Lucinda) Gantt, Richard Terry (Rena) Gant, Phyllis Gant, and Todd (Monica) Perry; two stepchildren, Wendell (Betty) Perry and Audrey Perry; three grandchildren she reared in the home, Toris Perry, Ladon Perry, Gabriel Perry, and Jamaal Gant, and a host of other grandchildren, and great-grandchildren; two sisters, Ella Gant and Catherine Smith; two brothers, Richard (Rose) Gantt and Joseph (Gloria) Gantt; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Mother Mary Ruth Perry, please visit our floral store.