With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of our mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, and friend, Ruth Marshbanks Thomas, 93 of Bamberg, SC. and formerly of Weaverville, NC. She met her Lord and Savior on Tuesday, October 7 after a seven year journey with Alzheimer's disease. She was the wife of the late Keith LeGrande Thomas of Cordova. Ruth loved flowers and worked as a florist in NC and at Delavan in Bamberg until she retired. At both Colston Branch Baptist Church and Ebenezer Baptist Church in Cordova, she enjoyed preparing flowers for the services. Ruth is the daughter of the late Reverend Homer and Mrs. Willie Tomberlin of Weaverville, NC. The funeral service will be held at Colston Branch Baptist Church in Bamberg, SC on Sunday, October 12 at 4:00 P.M. with visitation prior to the service from 3:00 until 4:00 P.M. Rev. Shawn Hanks will be officiating. The graveside service will follow on Monday, October 13 at 2:00 P.M. at Forks of Ivy Baptist Church in Mars Hill, NC with visitation prior to from 1:00 until 2:00 P.M. Ruth will be buried beside her first husband Roy Ernest Marshbanks.

Ruth's life can best be described as always putting God first, then her family, and friends. As a devoted mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend, she always showed kindness, compassion, and love.

Ruth was predeceased by her first husband, Roy Ernest Marshbanks; her second husband, Keith LeGrande Thomas; two brothers, Thore and

Boyd Tomberlin; sisters Jean (Glen) Riddle, Rosalee Shook; and step- daughter Nan(Randy) Merritt. She is survived by her daughter Cathy(Frank)

Kirkland of Bamberg; Grandson Jason (Stacy) Peek and their children Colyn and Avery; Sister-in-Law Audrey Marshbanks Brown; her two sisters Norma (Herbert) Cheek, Debra (Jim) Schmidt; her step-son Keith Thomas and step- daughters Joyce Reed, Mary (Don) Cleek, Cindy (Billy) Bozard; and a number of grandchildren, great-grands, nieces, nephews, and cousins. Memorials may be made to Colston Branch Baptist Church Bamberg SC, Ebenezer Baptist Church Cordova SC, or Edisto Hospice Orangeburg