Dear Georgia WAND Community,

Our dear friend and wonderful WAND member, Ruth Schmidt, died yesterday afternoon (Monday, May 24, 2010) at Piedmont Hospital.  Her dear friends Barbara Gifford and Jean Wright and her niece, Lorene Brown, were with her.

Ruth, the peacemaker, lived a life of activism: an educator, Agnes Scott college president,  board member or advisor to many organizations, and one of the most faithful members of Stand for Peace - the Friday noon peace vigil held for the past 7 years at the corner of 14th & Peachtree Streets in Midtown Atlanta. Ruth was a devoted and supportive member of the Georgia WAND community. She served for years on the Atlanta WAND Board of Directors and eventually became a member of the Advisory Board. In fact, she spearheaded the executive director fundraising which allowed us to first hire Bobbie Paul. Just last year Ruth became the first member of Georgia WAND's Silver Circle.

Ruth was valiant, steadfast, brilliant, joyful, and a devoted friend to so many in our community.  We are stunned and deeply saddened by her passing. Sen. Nan Orrock said it beautifully, "Ruth's accomplishments of a lifetime and her clarity about the urgency of stepping up and taking a stand against war, and nuclear weapons, and poverty and racism will remain an inspiration for untold numbers of people."

A service for Ruth will be held at North Decatur Presbyterian Church (611 medlock Road, Decatur, GA 30033) this Thursday, May 27, at 2pm. A reception will follow in Fellowship Hall.

If you would like to express condolences to members of Ruth's family, you may do so by writing to her niece:  Lorene K. Brown, 120 Choctaw Circle, Chanhassen, MN  55317.  She will share your thoughts with other members of the family.

With heavy hearts,
-Bobbie, Amanda, and Nichole

http://www.ajc.com/news/ruth-a-schmidt-79-535842.html

Ruth Schmidt Memorial

Many WAND Members and supporters attended the lovely memorial service for Ruth Schmidt at North Decatur Presbyterian Church. At the end of the service, 3 doves were released to represent a life devoted to peace. Another tribe will be held at Agnes Scott College on June 16th.