Ruthie Bedford Martin

November 24, 1953 - May 17, 2020

Graveside services for Ruthie Bedford Martin, 66, will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, May 23, 2020 in the Magnolia Cemetery. Mrs. Martin was born on November 24, 1953 in Malvern Arkansas and died Sunday, May 17, 2020 in Hillister, TX. Deaconess Ruthie Jean Bedford-Martin, was born on November 24, 1953 in Malvern, Arkansas to the proud parents of Ellis and Pauline Bedford. The Bedford family moved to Los Angeles, California in 1968. Ruthie graduated from Freemont High School in 1972 and attended Compton Jr. College. After college, she met the love of her life, Bennie Charles Martin, Sr. and was married on July 4, 1974. In 1980, Ruthie accepted her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and attended Revival Center Tridestone Church of God in Christ under the leadership of the late Pastor-Dr. Joseph W. Mayfield. She was a very faithful member of the Church where she worked as a Deaconess, Usher, Pastors-Aid, and fed the homeless. Whatever Ruthie found to do...she did it. She was blessed with many talents and often called herself and entrepreneur. Ruthie followed her husband and moved to Chester, Texas in 1996. The Martin family attended First Church of God in Christ in Corrigan, Texas under the leadership of Pastor Guy Richards until his death in 2001. Ruthie settled in Lufkin, Texas in 2002 and attended Woods Memorial Temple Church of God in Christ under the leadership of the late Superintendent Chester M. Robinson. Ruthie will be remembered as a strong, faithful, compassionate, graceful, loyal, lovable, and independent mother, granny, great-grandma, sister, friend, and church member. Ruthie is preceded in death by her oldest son, Darryl D. Bedford; her father, Ellis Bedford; her mother, Pauline Bedford; grandmother, Ruth Bedford; four brothers, Arthur Lee Garland, George Garland, Roland Garland and Ellis Bedford Jr.; A sister, Bobbie Sue Mendenhall. Ruthie is survived and leaves to cherish her memories: Her only daughter and best friend, Angela Martin Pairé (Dimpsey Pairé); Sons, Bennie "Bo Zack" Martin, Jr., Anthony Martin (Christi) Martin, Timothy Martin (Mi Mi White) Darryl Bedford, Jr.; Her "Road Dog," Willie Mae Hurts who all live in East Texas; One sister, Mattie Sue Bedford of Los Angeles, California; One brother, Charles Garland (Linda Garland) of Moreno Valley, California; Twenty grandchildren; A God Child, Chesa Delane; A God-Sister, (Peaches Mallard); A host of grandchildren and great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.