Ruth Elizabeth Black

Ruth Elizabeth Hammill Black passed away on Tuesday, October 23, 2018. Ruth was born on May 6, 1921 near Gold Hill, NC in the house in which she died, now the residence of her daughter, Janet B. Callahan and Ben F. Callahan. 

She was the seventh child of William H. Hammill, Jr. and Fannie Dora Rinehardt.  Ruth was a lifelong member of St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church and its oldest member. Ruth attended the old Nussman School near her home before moving to Mt. Pleasant School.  She graduated from Mt. Pleasant High School in 1939. Ruth married Clinton McCoy “Coy” Black at the St. Stephen’s Parsonage on 23 Jan 1942.  The couple resided in Baltimore, MD during WWII while Coy served in the Merchant Marines.  After the War they moved back to Gold Hill and lived with Ruth’s parents before building their own home nearby. Ruth and Coy had five children and Ruth spent most of the rest of her life within sight of her home place and her Church. During their 63 years together, Ruth and Coy dedicated themselves to their children, their Church and their community through work and service in the MPHS Booster’s Club, MPHS Band Parents, St. Stephen’s Boy Scout Troop #52, and the Mt. Pleasant Lion’s Club.  Ruth was a charter member of the Mt. Pleasant Lioness Club, the first Lioness Club in the World.  At 97, she was the oldest member of the Mt. Pleasant Lion’s Club.  She was also a long serving member of St. Stephen’s Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church and served her Church in many capacities.  Ruth also supported Coy in creating and maintaining the “family” business, C. M. Black Construction.  Preceding her in death were her parents, W. H. Hammill, Jr. and Fannie R. Hammill; her husband, Coy Black; an infant daughter, Marilyn Faye Black; sisters, Kate A. Poole (Oscar); Willie D. Helderman (Russell); Lena M. Corl (Gilmer), and Alma L. Crowell (Judson); brothers, Clifford A. Hammill, Lee Elbert Hammill, and Roy Davis Hammill (Odessa).  

She is survived by four children, Carolyn B. Dobbins of Atlanta, GA; Janet Black Callahan (Ben), Gold Hill, NC; Clinton M. Black II (Renee), Mt. Pleasant, NC; Emmitt H. Black (Sandy), Gold Hill, NC; nine grand-children, and ten great-grandchildren. 

Rev. Ruth Ann Sipe will officiate at funeral services at 3:00 pm on Saturday, Oct. 27, at St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church.  The family will receive friends at the Church beginning at 1:30 PM on Saturday. 

In lieu of flowers memorials may be sent to St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church, 4401 St. Stephen’s Church Rd., Gold Hill, NC 28071