Ruth Mae Benton

Celebration of Life for
Ruth M. Benton
September 21, 1928 – September 25, 2020

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God[a]; believe also in me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.” John 14:1-4

Ruth Jinks Benton, the feisty and faithful family matriarch, was born on September 21, 1928, in Moultrie, Georgia; a blessing to the union of Elijah and Susie Jinks. She was the twelfth of fourteen children. As a very young child the family moved to and settled in Savannah, Georgia.
It was in Savannah were Ruth was raised, educated and taught the values of southern hospitality, the importance of family and tenacity to accomplish goals. She also began her Christian journey at an early age, attending the Historic First African Baptist Church.
In 1946, she was introduced to Butler Benton by her older brother Edgar. They built a friendship over the next two years, until Butler asked her for her hand in marriage in 1948. Their union would extend forty-eight years, until he was called to prepare a place for her in heaven. To this union, a daughter and son were born, and later, five grand-children and two great-grand-children, with one on the way. She absolutely treasured all of her kids and adorned upon them tremendous amounts of love.
In 1953, with two children in tow, Ruth followed her husband north for greater opportunities. They settled in Detroit, Michigan, were she would spend the next twenty-five years until moving into her beloved home in Oak Park, Michigan. They attended St. John’s A.M.E. Church, in River Rouge, MI. After Butler’s passing and in her more seasoned years, she returned to her Baptist roots, joining her daughter and son-in-law at Liberty Temple Baptist Church. She later joined United Open Doors of Hope Church.
Ruth worked for years as a retail clerk, retiring as the Sales Manager of Billy’s Clothing Store, located on the Avenue of Fashion in Detroit. After retirement, she was able to do what she loved most, spend time with the loves of her life, her young grand-children.
Ruth loved her family to no end, giving them nick-names that only she could use. For many years, she talked on the phone daily to her sister (Baby), her daughter (Sweetie Pie) and her grandson (Angel). In her later years she could be persuaded to leave the house on trips to the nail salon and other outings with her granddaughter (Precious/Kilah Baby). She treated her nephews and nieces like her own children; from giving love and affection, or the requisite punishment common in those days. She was instrumental in establishing the McDonald Family Reunion, which began in 1977. In fact, she was present and accounted for at all 20 reunions, joining together with the offsprings of her late grandmother and grandfather, Nancy and Shepard McDonald.
She was very well rounded and had several other loves. She had exquisite fashion sense and loved to dress-up with coordinating accessories and beautiful gold jewelry. She loved anything that sparkled and was known for her beautiful nail designs. Ruth loved to travel on cruises and picked up bowling later in life and fell in love with it. Quietly, she loved to sing and dance. She loved her “Stories” (Soap Operas), vanilla milkshakes from McDonalds, and in true Grandma fashion she always had never-ending supply of starlight peppermints. Ruth was relentless on the road often pushing the limits of the law. Her house was a neighborhood landmark, well known for its beautiful flowers, immaculately manicured lawn and seasonal decorations, winning her several City of Oak Park Beautification awards. Eventually she became a member of the city’s Beautification Advisory Commission.
After years of independence, Ruth succumbed to health challenges that caused her to move to Sunrise of Bloomfield Hills Assisted Living Facility, where she would remain until the Lord called her from labor to reward on Friday, September 25 and 7:45 pm, with her son, Butler Jr. and grandson, Brandon at her side, four days after her 92nd birthday.
She was preceded in death by her late husband Butler Sr., her mother, father and all thirteen of her siblings, three brothers-in-law and two sisters-in-law. She was also preceded by her four-legged love, Star of Venus de’Benton.
She leaves to cherish her memory and exalt her legacy of greatness, her daughter Bernadette (Sweetie Pie) and son, Butler, Jr. (Buddy). Son-in-Law, Clayburn Sr. and Daughter-in-Law, Daisy. Five grandchildren, Clayburn Jr. (Curly) and wife Rebekah, Brandon (Angel), Aisha (Princess), Akilah (Precious/Kilah Baby), Butler III, (King) and wife Jennifer; and two great-grandchildren Joi and Parker. Her special nephew, Eddie M. Jinks, who has been by her side like a son for over 50 years. She also leaves her beloved Maltese, Roxie Baby. And she leaves to cherish her memory a host of nephews, nieces, cousins, play daughters, and friends. Ruth is now amongst the Angels in heaven watching down over us.

We saw you fading, like flower, but couldn’t make you stay. We will miss your kindness, that God has taken away. We love you, and our hearts are sad, it’s true. But, as long as our lives and memories last, we will always remember you.
Sleep on and take your rest!
*poem taken from the obituary of Susie Jinks, Ruth’s beloved mother*