January 7, 2017 – Mrs. Ruth Jackson – known to her family, friends and country music fans the world over simply as “Mama Ruth” – died Saturday morning, January 7, peacefully at her home in Newnan, Georgia. Mrs. Jackson became a celebrated part of son Alan Jackson’s career and life story as the inspiration behind some of his fans’ favorite music. Mama Ruth was 86.
Born April 2, 1930 in Lowell, Georgia, Mama Ruth at the young age of 16 married the love of her life, Joseph Eugene “Daddy Gene” Jackson, in 1946. Their marriage was blessed by five children – daughters Diane, Cathy, Carol, Connie and son Alan. Mama Ruth is survived by all, as well as by 12 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren. Her beloved husband Eugene passed 17 years ago, in January of 2000.
Childhood memories of his mother have factored into many of Alan Jackson’s songs over the years. It was Mama Ruth who inspired Jackson’s, Precious Memories, a collection of gospel hymns that was originally created as a Mother’s Day gift to her with no intention of ever being made into a commercial release. Jackson’s second Christmas album, Let It Be Christmas, was also inspired by Mama Ruth’s desire and request to hear her son record some of the holiday’s traditional classics. Alan also told the story of his parents’ early years as a couple in “Home,” describing their house built around an old tool shed…the place Mama Ruth called home for 70 years until the day she died.
McKoon Funeral Home in Charge...
Obituary
Ruth Musick Jackson, known by all as “Mama Ruth”, was born on April 2, 1930, at home in the small town of Lowell in Carroll County, Georgia. She died peacefully in her home at the age of 86 on Saturday, January 7, with children at her side. She was preceded in death by her parents, Bessie Shaw Musick and James H. Musick; sister, Lois Musick Gladney; brothers, Elbert and James Musick; two infant brothers; stepmother, Vera Cheek Ellis Musick and stepbrother, Thomas Ellis.
Ruth was also preceded in death by her husband of 54 years, Joseph Eugene Jackson, known as “Daddy Gene”. She married Eugene, the love of her life, on August 17, 1946; and they resided at on Franklin Road in Newnan in the house that began as one room and then grew along with the addition of each child.
Mama Ruth is survived by her five children: Diane Dawson (Jim); Cathy Wright (Lamar); Carol Glover (Banks); Connie Davis (Pat); and Alan Jackson (Denise). Twelve grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
Her children were blessed to have her as a stay-at-home mom until her last child, Alan, was two years old, when she took a job as cafeteria manager at International Playtex. Her experience there led her to a position as dietitian and manager of Elm Street School cafeteria, where she served for 22 years. Following Eugene’s retirement from Ford Assembly Plant in Hapeville and her retirement from Elm Street, the couple enjoyed traveling the country with friends and members of the Coweta Creek Jumpers camping club. As Alan’s country music career skyrocketed, the couple’s small town story became internationally known; and their world suddenly included evening gowns, tuxedos, limousines, and award shows. This fame never affected their perspective on what was important—family, faith, and friends. Following Eugene’s death, Mama Ruth’s lifelong love of music inspired the children to encourage her to play and sing with them in a family bluegrass/gospel band, the Straynotes.
Ruth was best known for her outgoing and vivacious personality. She never met a stranger and was happiest when doing for others. Her Sunday lunches after church for her children and their families have been a weekly tradition for decades. Her love of birds and her care and feeding of them earned her property the designation as a wildlife sanctuary.
Ruth was very grateful, due to the generosity of Alan, for the opportunity to remain in the only place she knew as home and surrounded by so many of her family and devoted caregivers until her death.
The exemplary life of this matriarch of the Jackson family will be remembered and told in word and music in a service to be held at Central Baptist Church on Thursday, January 12, 2017 at 2:00 PM
January 7, 2017 – Mrs. Ruth Jackson – known to her family, friends and country music fans the world over simply as “Mama Ruth” – died Saturday morning, January 7, peacefully at her home in Newnan, Georgia. Mrs. Jackson became a celebrated part of son Alan Jackson’s career and life story as the inspiration behind some of his fans’ favorite music. Mama Ruth was 86.
Born April 2, 1930 in Lowell, Georgia, Mama Ruth at the young age of 16 married the love of her life, Joseph Eugene “Daddy Gene” Jackson, in 1946. Their marriage was blessed by five children – daughters Diane, Cathy, Carol, Connie and son Alan. Mama Ruth is survived by all, as well as by 12 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren. Her beloved husband Eugene passed 17 years ago, in January of 2000.
Childhood memories of his mother have factored into many of Alan Jackson’s songs over the years. It was Mama Ruth who inspired Jackson’s, Precious Memories, a collection of gospel hymns that was originally created as a Mother’s Day gift to her with no intention of ever being made into a commercial release. Jackson’s second Christmas album, Let It Be Christmas, was also inspired by Mama Ruth’s desire and request to hear her son record some of the holiday’s traditional classics. Alan also told the story of his parents’ early years as a couple in “Home,” describing their house built around an old tool shed…the place Mama Ruth called home for 70 years until the day she died.
McKoon Funeral Home in Charge...
Obituary
Ruth Musick Jackson, known by all as “Mama Ruth”, was born on April 2, 1930, at home in the small town of Lowell in Carroll County, Georgia. She died peacefully in her home at the age of 86 on Saturday, January 7, with children at her side. She was preceded in death by her parents, Bessie Shaw Musick and James H. Musick; sister, Lois Musick Gladney; brothers, Elbert and James Musick; two infant brothers; stepmother, Vera Cheek Ellis Musick and stepbrother, Thomas Ellis.
Ruth was also preceded in death by her husband of 54 years, Joseph Eugene Jackson, known as “Daddy Gene”. She married Eugene, the love of her life, on August 17, 1946; and they resided at on Franklin Road in Newnan in the house that began as one room and then grew along with the addition of each child.
Mama Ruth is survived by her five children: Diane Dawson (Jim); Cathy Wright (Lamar); Carol Glover (Banks); Connie Davis (Pat); and Alan Jackson (Denise). Twelve grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
Her children were blessed to have her as a stay-at-home mom until her last child, Alan, was two years old, when she took a job as cafeteria manager at International Playtex. Her experience there led her to a position as dietitian and manager of Elm Street School cafeteria, where she served for 22 years. Following Eugene’s retirement from Ford Assembly Plant in Hapeville and her retirement from Elm Street, the couple enjoyed traveling the country with friends and members of the Coweta Creek Jumpers camping club. As Alan’s country music career skyrocketed, the couple’s small town story became internationally known; and their world suddenly included evening gowns, tuxedos, limousines, and award shows. This fame never affected their perspective on what was important—family, faith, and friends. Following Eugene’s death, Mama Ruth’s lifelong love of music inspired the children to encourage her to play and sing with them in a family bluegrass/gospel band, the Straynotes.
Ruth was best known for her outgoing and vivacious personality. She never met a stranger and was happiest when doing for others. Her Sunday lunches after church for her children and their families have been a weekly tradition for decades. Her love of birds and her care and feeding of them earned her property the designation as a wildlife sanctuary.
Ruth was very grateful, due to the generosity of Alan, for the opportunity to remain in the only place she knew as home and surrounded by so many of her family and devoted caregivers until her death.
The exemplary life of this matriarch of the Jackson family will be remembered and told in word and music in a service to be held at Central Baptist Church on Thursday, January 12, 2017 at 2:00 PM
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