Willie "Ruth" Daugherty

Willie Ruth Daugherty was born to Sanford and Thelma Camp and was raised by her mother and stepfather, George Lyons, lovingly known as Papa, who played a loving and very important role throughout her life as Daddy. Growing up in Palmetto, Georgia, she joined Vernon Grove Baptist Church. As an adult, she moved her membership to True Light Baptist Church, serving under Reverend C. I. Fowler Jr. Afterward, she happily rejoined her childhood church, Vernon Grove Baptist Church, under the leadership of Reverend John Farmer. She absolutely loved good gospel, singing—including note singing—and quartet singing. Her favorite song was “The Little Old Wooden Church.” She was married to Roger C. Daugherty and was blessed with ten children: Jarius “Jabo,” Clarence “Cootie,” Cynthia, Bernard “Phil,” Cassandra “Casey,” Teresa “Booley,” Carmen, Denise, Rhonda “Keta,” and Stephan. She attended Washington High School and held several jobs she loved, especially being a nanny to Nyle and Nadia Kendall. Their parents, Alvin and Angela Kendall, as well as Phoebe Dawson and her family, were among her favorite employers and friends. She was an example of true love. She showed herself to be friendly and had FRIENDS! She opened her doors and gave shelter if you needed it, and food if you were hungry. Cooking was her passion; she would feed the whole neighborhood if she could. She was the life of the party with her signature dance, and her family and friends always wanted her around. She departed this life on August 21, 2026, at the wonderfully blessed age of 95. She was preceded in death by three sons, Jarius “Jabo,” Clarence “Cootie,” and Bernard “Phil”; one daughter, Rhonda “Keta”; one granddaughter, Kawanna Presley; one great-granddaughter, Bailey Presley; and one great-grandson, Aunray Daugherty. She leaves to cherish and treasure her memories, five daughters: Cynthia, Cassandra “Casey,” Teresa “Booley,” Carmen (Reginald), and Denise (Kenneth Glover Jr.); 19 grandchildren, 30 great-grandchildren, and six great-great-grandchildren; a special loving cousin, Tildi Nelson; and a host of other relatives and friends.