DELANA RUTH GIVENS

Delana Ruth Givens, 93, passed from her earthly home to her heavenly home May 19, 2025. As a believer in Jesus Christ, she joyfully and lovingly lived out her faith as a daughter, niece, sister, cousin, aunt, wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and friend.

Ruth was born November 14, 1931 to Carlos Yerby Johns and Mamie Bernice Whitehead Johns in Mobile, Alabama. When her father died of a sudden illness, her mother, Mamie brought her young family of three children back to Washington County to live near her parents and grandparents in the Chipley, and Caryville communities. Ruth attended Brackins School, Vernon Elementary, and Vernon High School, Class of 1950. As she grew, she enjoyed nature, music, reading, and her friends and family at LakeView Methodist Church and the nearby communities.

As a young adult, Ruth worked for The Florida Forestry Service, The Federal Bureau of Investigations in Washington D.C., The Bank of Bonifay, and she attended Chipola Junior College to study voice and business. She was known in the community for her beautiful voice. She sang with community and church choirs, and as a soloist, she performed on the local radio shows, at community and church services, weddings, and funerals.

On August 19, 1956, Ruth married Kenneth Harold Givens, son of Henry Manuel Givens and Vera Kirkland Givens of Slocomb, Alabama and communities in the Washington County area. He had completed his service in the United States Navy and returned to the area to attend and graduate from Chipola Junior College. Ruth and Kenneth bought a farm on Wrights Creek, and made their home there on Route 4 Bonifay, where they raised their 4 children: Emily, Elane, Reed, and Stephanie.

During her years as a mother, Ruth first and foremost nurtured her children to accept faith in the love and salvation given by Jesus Christ. She taught them home and farm life skills, gardening skills for flowers and vegetables, and singing and piano skills. Gathering around her at the piano to sing was a loved family time. The family often sang special music selections at their churches Mount Olive Baptist and Shady Grove Baptist. Ruth also taught her children of her love for reading and nature, especially birds. She studied and acquired Braille and Sign Language skills to assist exceptional students when she worked 15 years as an aide to teachers at Bonifay Elementary School. She also enjoyed the playground activities with the students. She volunteered in several church and community organizations such as Girls in Action, Women’s Missionary Union, Baptist Association, Farm Bureau, Girl and Boy Scouts of America, Parent Teacher Organization, Holmes County High School Band and Blue Devil Sports Clubs.

In her retirement years, Ruth used her musical and other talents in Bethel Baptist Church and its community when she and Kenneth bought and moved to another farm in Graceville, Florida. She found a love for watercolor painting, she provided loving care for her elderly mother, and she poured her love and talents into 9 grandchildren: Diana, Chris, Trent, Elizabeth, Tyler, Amanda, Allison, Anna, and Levi.

When life began to slow down, Ruth and Kenneth sold the Graceville farm, bought a house, and moved back to Bonifay. They attended and served in The First Baptist Church until Kenneth passed away in 2019. In recent years, Ruth gracefully endured, and continued life by loving and nurturing her family, friends, neighbors, and a growing list of great grandchildren. Having lived in the Bonifay area all of these years, Ruth treasured many lifelong friends.

Ruth loved and appreciated all of her caregivers and nurses so very much. Each one, a special answer to her prayers.

She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband, her sister, Clara Johns Roberts, and her brother, Carlos Yerby Johns Jr.(Sonny).

She is survived by her children: Emily (Kevin) Tatem of Smithfield, North Carolina, Elane (Wayne) Vickers of Panama City, Florida, Reed (Jill) Givens of Stanwood, Washington, Stephanie (Stacey) Paul of Bonifay, Florida; her grandchildren: Diana Tatem, Chris (Rachel) Tatem, Trent (Danielle) Vickers, Elizabeth Vickers (Michael) McCann, Tyler Givens, Amanda Givens, Allison Williams, Anna Williams (Camden) Pate, Levi Williams; her great grandchildren: Luna, Ivy, Hawk, and Wilde Tatem, Will McCann, and Baby Vickers on the way. She is also survived by several cousins, and many nieces, and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 4:00 PM Sunday, May 25, 2025, in the Peel Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Gary Medlock officiating.  Interment will follow in the Bonifay Cemetery with Peel Funeral Home and Bonifay Crematory in charge of the arrangements.  The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service from 3 to 4 PM Sunday, May 25, 2025, at Peel Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Mrs. Givens’ memory to: Bonifay K8 Playground Fund, 140 Blue Devil Drive, Bonifay, FL 32425 (checks made out to BK8 and in memo Playground Fund in honor of Ruth Givens) or First Baptist Bonifay Building Fund, 311 North Waukesha Street, Bonifay, FL 32425.