Ruth Baker Avirett

Mrs. Ruth Baker Avirett, age 96, of Sandersville passed away peacefully on Monday, June 12, 2023 following an extended illness.  A funeral service to celebrate her life will be held June 24th, Saturday at May and Smith Funeral Home Chapel at 2:00 p.m. with burial in Brownwood Cemetery in Sandersville.   Reverend Lee Lacey will officiate.  Pallbearers Jimmy Godfrey, Ben Raley, Scott Chapman, Rob Mathis, and Jimmy Croome.  Members of the DAR will sit as an honorary group. Mrs. Avirett's family will greet friends from 1:00 until the hour of service at the funeral home.

Mrs. Avirett was born in Sandersville, the daughter of the late Nesbit Baker and the late Pearl Green Baker. She was reared in Louisville where she graduated high school.  Mrs. Avirett attended Mercer University from 1944 to 1948, where she graduated with a degree in Sociology and was a member of ADPI Sorority.  She married the late E. Ray Avirett on August 22, 1948.  Mrs. Avirett worked as an elementary school teacher in Cochran and Bibb County Schools prior to moving to Sandersville, where she worked for 24 years with the Washington County Board of Education and Brentwood School from which she retired.  She was an active member of First Baptist Church of Sandersville from 1952 until her death and formerly taught Sunday school for various age groups and was a member of WMU. Mrs. Avirett was a charter member of the Town and County Garden Club, also a member the Daughter's of the American Revolution and the Washington County Historical Society.  She was an avid genealogy researcher who wrote and published two genealogy books and she loved playing bridge.

Survivors include her children, Donald Baker Avirett and his wife Paula of Amarillo, TX., and Laura Avirett Miller of Gainsville, GA.; grandchildren Laura Avirett Anderson and her husband Tyler, Dr. Nathaniel M. Avirett and his wife Dr. Erin Avirett, Havilah Miller Wallace and her husband Matt, Jarrett Lemuel Miller and his wife Hannah, Dr. Evan Avirett Miller and his wife Mary Katherine; and  great-grandchildren Jude Avirett, Samuel Avirett, Gwendolyn Avirett, Truett Burciaga, Liam Anderson, Lochland Anderson, Everett Miller and Harrison Miller.

Donations may be made to Brentwood School, P.O. Box 955, or to First Baptist Church 316 Mathis Circle, both in Sandersville, GA.31082 in memory of Mrs. Avirett.

May and Smith Funeral Directors is in charge of these arrangements.   Leave an online condolence at www.mayandsmithfuneraldirectors.com