Mary Ruth Pierce Magee, born on Sept. 23, 1928, passed away in Ridgeland, Miss., on Thursday, April 26, 2018, at the age of 89.

She is survived by a son, Gene Magee (Lu Ann) of Madison, Miss.; two grandchildren, Clay Magee (Sarah) of Birmingham, Ala. and Kimberly Hester (Lex) of Germantown, Tenn.; and six great-grandchildren, Brecon, Hallie, Ava and Blair Hester and Ann Reece and Stella Magee.

She is preceded in death by her husband, William O. “Dub” Magee; and a daughter, Lucinda Lynette Magee.

Visitation was held at Ben’s Ford Baptist Church on Monday, April 30, from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m. Funeral services will begin at 11 a.m., with the Rev. Caleb Martin and the Rev. Jimmy Byrd officiating. Interment will follow at Oral Baptist Church Cemetery, in Tylertown, Miss.

She graduated from Varnado High School and attended the University of Southeastern Louisiana and graduate school at the University of Southern Mississippi, studying elementary education. She taught first grade for 27 years at Slidell Elementary School, Pleasant Hill Elementary School and Denhamtown Elementary School in Bogalusa. She also taught briefly at Franklinton Elementary School. She finished her career as principal of Columbia Street Elementary School for three years.

The most important thing in her life, which she specifically requested to be shared, was that she accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior in October 1940 at the age of 13. She was then baptized in the Pushpatap Creek near Monroe’s Creek Baptist Church, which she attended with her family while growing up. Following moving to Bogalusa, she faithfully attended Ben’s Ford Baptist Church for over 50 years.

In lieu of flowers, she requested that donations be made to her favorite charity, BEAMS Bible Ministry, 15444 Duckworth Road, Gulfport, MS 39503.

Poole-Ritchie Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

To view and sign the register book, visit online at www.pooleritchiefuneralhome.com.