Ruth Martin AdkinsBrandon, MSRuth Martin Adkins, age 79, died Thursday, April 20, 2017 in the presence of her loving husband. Visitation will be held 4-7 pm Saturday, April 22, 2017 at Ott and Lee Funeral Home in Brandon, MS and beginning at 1 pm Sunday, April 23, 2017 at Brandon First United Methodist Church. The funeral service will be held at 2 pm at the church with interment at Crestview Memorial Gardens. She spent the final two years of her life as a resident of Brandon Court where Murphy visited daily for meals and worked the Clarion Ledger crossword puzzle and word jumble with her. Ruth developed a special relationship with many of her caregivers at Brandon Court, and her family will always be grateful for the genuine love and care shown to her by the staff.Ruth was born on February 25, 1938 in Cato, MS to Thomas and Mattie Martin. She grew up in Cato and attended Puckett High School and graduated from an accelerated program at Hinds Community College in Raymond, MS in 1956. Afterwards, she completed her education at Lambuth College in Jackson, TN. While at Lambuth, Ruth met her beloved Murphy Adkins, whom she married her senior year of college on January 1, 1960.After graduating college, Ruth and her husband Murphy moved to West Memphis, AR where she was a Fourth Grade Teacher and Youth Director at the West Memphis Methodist Church. Four years later in 1964, the couple relocated to Brandon, MS where they remained as life-long residents. In 1964, Ruth began her Mississippi teaching career in the Pearl School District, then moved on to become a teacher at the First Baptist Church Kindergarten Program. In 1966, Ruth became a new mother to her eldest son David. A year later in 1967, She and Murphy welcomed their second child, Andrea and two years later, in 1969, their son Ben was born. In 1975, Ruth gave birth to their fourth child, Sally.With a young family, Ruth was determined to be as involved in the community and youth programs as possible. She and husband Murphy helped to start the first Brandon Youth Soccer League and were extremely active in church and school activities. She was a member of the Pilot Club of Brandon; where she held several offices, the Brandon Garden Club, and her close knit group, The Hobby Club. Her commitment to each group, be it planning an event, coordinating fund raisers, or just bringing a new recipe for all to try, was unwavering. She was truly an asset to friends and organizations. Ruth continued her teaching career, spreading her love and knowledge for all things science to the Seventh Grade at Brandon Middle School. She then moved to a position at Brandon High School as a treasured Biology and Advanced Biology teacher where she continued to teach until her retirement. Two favorite projects, as rated by students, were the dissection of a frog and the "keep alive" assignment, where a plant, animal, etc… had to be kept alive and documented for six weeks. After those six weeks the Adkins household usually exploded. Teaching was her passion and it was evident to all that had the joy of knowing her.As her children grew and married, Ruth joined her husband Murphy on many travel excursions with friends. Some of their favorite trips included those to The Holy Land, Bannf and Jasper Canada, Pagosa Springs, CO, an Alaskan Cruise, and one of her most treasured trips, Paul's Missionary Journey though Greece and Turkey. Ruth dearly loved her friends and family, and she was a true blessing to them. It was her greatest joy to share her life experiences with them and for them to share theirs with her. Over time, she had several grandchildren that she lovingly adored and cherished; spending quiet moments listening to and teaching them in her gentle manner . Her kindness, graciousness, and passion for living with determination and confidence was compelling to all that crossed her path. She will continue to be remembered through all that knew her. She is survived by her husband of 57 years, Murphy Adkins, her sister Nell Martin Farmer, her son David Adkins of Jackson, MS; her daughter Andrea Adkins Sanders (Jay) of McComb, MS; and daughter Sally Adkins Williams (Brian) of Senatobia, MS; grandchildren, Henry John Sanders V, Charles Murphy Sanders, William Hart Adkins, Brian Veazey Williams, Jr, and George Poindexter Hewes V.Ruth is preceded in death by her son Benjamin Thomas Adkins of Brandon, MS; her parents Thomas and Mattie Martin of Brandon, MS; brother Earl Martin (Faydelle) of Picayune, MS; brother Will Martin (Sue) of Brandon, MS; brother Fred Martin of Cato, MS; sister Sue Martin Humphries (Bob) of Edgewood, TX; sister Nina Martin of Cato, MS, and brother-in-law, Benny "Red" Farmer of Brandon, MS.In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be sent to Brandon First United Methodist Church Bus Fund or Ben Adkins Scholarship Fund at Hinds Community College Foundation, P.O. Box 1100, Raymond, MS 39154.Please view our online guestbook at www.ottandleefuneralhome.com