Ruth (Anthony) Freeman

Life’s Portrait Of

Ruth Anthony Freeman

Ruth (Anthony) Freeman was born March 4, 1921, in Merriweather County, Georgia.  She is the oldest of four children—Marcella, Grace, and one boy—born to the union of Warren Anthony and Clara Slaton.  Her parents, sisters and brother are deceased.  Her extended family lives in the Atlanta area.

Ruth’s early childhood was spent mostly with her maternal grandmother in the rural area around Atlanta, Georgia.  She was educated in the Atlanta public school system.  When she lived in the “country,” she often proudly recalls her pre-school coaching in the timetables and her talent for winning “spelling bees.”  She remembers the musical talent of  her maternal uncle who frequently visited; she recalled he would walk in the house, sit down at the small organ in the living room, play intensely for about an hour, then get up and leave; and, her maternal grandfather was a popular guitar/fiddle player at the Saturday night social events.  She attended both Methodist and Baptist churches as a child but was baptized in a Baptist church when she was nine years old.

She married Edward A. Freeman (deceased), and to this union, three children were born Edward, Jr., Constance Marie, and William Norman (deceased). When Chaplain Freeman was called to the pastorate position as he was being discharged from the army, Ruth served as First Lady of First Baptist Church on Nebraska Avenue in Kansas City, Kansas, from 1946 to 1996 when Rev. Dr. Freeman retired.  She was active as a member of the Freeman Choral Ensemble and of the Philathea Club.  For many years, she also served as First Lady of the Kansas Missionary Baptist State Convention and of the Congress of Christian Education of the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc. 

She devoted most of her time to taking care of the home and caring for her three children.  They fondly recall her self-proclaimed “psychic” abilities which caused her to warn them of bad situations often concerning their social destinations, and of less than honest people; they would complain that her intuition often jinxed their situation.  Cooking was a gift, and shopping was a passion.  She has been a devoted caregiver through illnesses of family members.  With her husband, she traveled around the world with religious groups, and spent three months in Japan with her youngest son.  Many knew her as a person who spoke in a direct manner, was a good listener, had a sharp memory, assertive, and was interested in discussing all things political.  In later years, she worked at Chelsea Plaza Homes as assistant manager.  Her strong will and physical strength allowed her to live in her own home and drive until the age of 95.

She is survived by, Edward, Jr. of San Diego, CA; Constance Lindesay (Horace) of Kansas City, MO; grandchildren, Kyle Edward Lindesay of Kansas City, MO; Edward, III, of Arizona; John, David and Paul Freeman of California; great grandchildren, Cierra Freeman of Kansas City; Demetri and Destiny of Arizona; relatives in the Atlanta area are,  nieces, Jackie Patterson (Wilber); Dale Coleman; Carolyn Middlebrooks; Sheryl Williams; Debbie Bankston Patton (Darryle); nephews, Ricky Weems (Misty); Timothy Bankston, Jr; George Sims; Robert, Jr. (Yvette) and nieces, Ollie May, Juanita, and Robertina.

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