Ruth Mae Monteiro was born in Savannah, Georgia on March 1, 1948 the daughter of Archie Brown and Johnnie Mae Leverette. Ruth never felt more at home than in Miami, Florida as she made a life as an insurance processor for American Bankers for many years, where she later retired. While she loved Miami; Jacksonville was always home where she later resided with her brothers and sisters. Nothing was more important than spending time with her family in the house where she grew up.

Ruth loved all things that had anything to do with Prince, along with a love for watching movies and listening to music. Everyone knew her favorite song “Purple Rain” and she can now hear it live in Heaven.
Ruth is best known for always trying to bring everyone together to spend time in fellowship. Nothing was more important than connecting her son’s families together as she called her grandchildren every Sunday afternoon.

Ruth was called to her eternal home on Thursday, March 23, 2017, fifty three years to the day of her mother, Johnnie Mae Chappell going on to join the Lord; sister, Martha Ann Bolden; brother, Gregory Chappell; stepfather, Willie Charles Chappell Sr.; aunt, Mrs. Essie Dawkins-Sargent.

Ruth is survived by her 3 sons, Kelvin Brown, La’Verick Brown (Brandi) both of Savannah, Georgia, and Ron Phifer (Angel) of The Colony, Texas; five grandchildren, Laniyyah Brown (10), Oshea Hightower (19), Isaiah Brown (13), Kayla Finnerty (20), and Addison Phifer (10); brothers and sisters; Jacquelyn Williams, Paula McKnight (Oscar), Catherine Walker, Willie Chappell, Alonzo Chappell, Ernest Chappell, and Shelton Chappell (Berneta) of Atlanta, GA; aunts, Earlene Hart (Family’s Matriarh) and Irma Chappell both of Jacksonville, FL; uncles, Ollie Hutchinson (Ella), John C. Lovett (Daisy) both of Palm Coast, FL, and Charles Lovett of Jacksonville, FL; and a host of nieces, nephews, and cousins to whom she loved dearly.