Ruth McKenzie, 87

Ruth R. McKenzie, 87, of Swainsboro, passed away Monday, December 29, 2025, at her residence following an extended illness. Funeral services were held Friday, January 2, at 11 a.m. at Peebles-Curry Memorial Chapel with Reverend Joe Bedgood officiating. Interment followed in Bithynia Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery. Family receivde friends one hour prior to services.

Pallbearers were Roy Jones, Tim Harrell, Tommy Henry, Earl Conrad, Gerald Henry and Andy Coxwell.

Ruth was born November 7, 1938, in Metter, to the late Elsie Jackel Robertson and Polly Sutton Robertson. She (Pud as she was affectionately known by her family) was a native of Emanuel County. Pud lived in the Twin City area until her long-time love, Clifford McKenzie, swept her off her feet and moved her to Blun. They lived there their whole lives and raised three wonderful children. Pud and Clifford worked during the day and farmed after work. They had a host of farm animals including cows, donkeys, hogs, and chickens to name a few. Pud instilled hard work into the next generation by picking, preserving, and learning what a joy it was to have homegrown food with love (even if we were dragged out before dawn to join her in the pea patch).

Pud shared her love and kindness with her family and everyone she met. She was a jokester at heart and loved gag gifts during the holidays. Pud enjoyed sewing all sorts of things even outside of her work at Sportswear. She was an amazing cook, and you always left her loving home very well fed. As far as hobbies… Pud loved to fish! She would out fish all of the avid fishermen she came across, and she passed that joy onto her family (especially Bo). Pud was a caregiver at heart. She took care of all of our wounds: cuts from hay cutters, 2nd degree burns, and broken legs from her daredevil grandchildren. Pud enjoyed her family more than anything and sharing the history of her lineage. Mrs. McKenzie is preceded in death by her parents; husband; daughter, Mary Ruth Gulledge; son-in-law, Wayne Gulledge; daughter-in-law, Connie McKenzie; sisters, Mattie Lee Coleman and Frances McKenzie; brothers, Donald Robertson and Willard Robertson.

Mrs. McKenzie is survived by her sons, Ricky Robertson of Swainsboro and Bo McKenzie of Dublin; grandchildren, Pamela Hutcheson (Kyle) of Vidalia, Josh Robertson (Michelle) and Melissa Gulledge (Jeff), both of Swainsboro; three great-grandchildren, one great-great-grandchild; several nieces, nephews and many friends.

Durden-Hudson Funeral Directors was in charge of arrangements.