Ruth Foster Champion Smith

Ruth Foster Champion Smith, 78, of Tifton, passed away Tuesday afternoon, April 7, 2026, at Colquitt Regional Medical Center after a short illness.

She was born in Patterson, Georgia, to the late James and Oletha Thornton Foster and was a 1966 graduate of Patterson High School. Ruth lived in Homerville, Georgia, for many years, working alongside her husband, Alan W. Champion, at Champion Apiaries until his death in 1993. Prior to his passing, she began a career with the Clinch County Board of Education, where she served as a kindergarten teacher until she retired in 2008.

In 1996, Ruth married Sylvester “Buddy” Smith, and they made their home in Waycross, Georgia, until his death in 2017. She later moved to Tifton, Georgia to be closer to family, where she especially enjoyed spending time with and spoiling her two grandchildren.

Ruth was a longtime member of Homerville First Baptist Church and lived a fiercely passionate Christ-centered life. She was an avid gardener with a true green thumb – she could plant a stick and make a flower grow. Family was her greatest joy, and she loved gathering everyone together, always preparing a full Southern home-cooked meal. Ruth was artistic and creative; she painted, decorated china and lamps, and lovingly made clothes and dresses for her daughters. Known for her kindness, she was always willing to help anyone in any way she could.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her first husband, Alan W. Champion; her second husband, Sylvester “Buddy” Smith; and two brothers, Russell Foster and Edward Foster.

Survivors include two daughters and sons-in-law, Cynthia C. and Jason Hendricks of Tifton, Georgia, and Anna Ruth Champion and Terrell C. Hoffman of State College, Pennsylvania; two grandchildren, Jase Hendricks and Lizzie Hendricks; her cherished fur baby, Daisy; four sisters, Ruby Dowling of Waycross, Katherine Wilson of Blackshear, Marie Cox of Salem, Alabama, and Barbara Aldridge of Townsend, Georgia; one brother, Monroe Foster of Nicholls, Georgia; two sisters-in-law, Coleen Foster of Edgewater, Florida, and Judy Foster of Atlanta; and numerous nieces, nephews, and other relatives.

A funeral service will be held Saturday afternoon, April 11, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. at First Baptist Church, with Rev. Ken Jones officiating. Burial will follow in Pine Forest Cemetery, Homerville, Georgia.

The family will receive friends from 2:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m. Saturday at First Baptist Church prior to the service.

The family requests that the Clinch County Retired Educators serve as honorary pallbearers and asks that they meet at the church by 2:30 p.m.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Homerville First Baptist Church Benevolence Committee. Flowers are also accepted.

Expressions of sympathy may be shared online at www.roundtreefuneralhome.net.

Roundtree Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.