Ruth M. Mathis

Ruth Minvera (Thomas) Mathis born in Youngstown, Ohio, April 10 1942, to Ted (Brown) Thomas and Helen Dungee. Mother of Sylvia Celeste (Thomas) Deaderick, Grandmother of Wesley Dean Deaderick and Great Grandmother of Winter Celeste Deaderick. After losing her mother at the tender age of 8 years old, Ruth was raised by her paternal Aunt, Sylvia (Brown)Cox, in Braddock, Pennsylvania, with her foster sister Daisy Mae (Studvant) Wright. Ruth graduated from Braddock High School class of 1960. Ruth relocated to Compton, California, in the summer of 1975, where she resided for 43 years before returning to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. While in California, Ruth worked for Compton College before landing a job that led to her career as one of few women in the construction industry. Ruth M. Mathis, a trailblazer, retired Construction Supervisor for the Community Redevelopment Agency of Los Angeles, began her career as a clerk and later became a Section 312 Rehab Loan Officer, bringing critical resources to homeowners at 30–50% AMI across underserved LA neighborhoods. Through community revitalization education and years of perseverance, she rose to become the first female construction specialist for the City of Los Angeles. Ruth returned to Pittsburgh in 2018 to mentor her family’s 3rd-generation real estate development company.

Ruth was the middle child of three siblings. Her elder sister, Juanita “Jaye” Goldsmith Freeman, and younger brother, Ted Everett, are both deceased. She is survived by her nephew, Ted Everette Jr, and niece, Nichole Georgette Goldsmith. Ruth is also survived by her first cousin, Cynthia Jean Bruce, whom she cherished as a daughter. Cynthia is the mother of Shawna (Martin) Graham, Shameka (Martin) Staine, and Ashley (Smith) Battle. [0] Ruth is the mother of Sylvia Celeste (Thomas) Deaderick, grandmother of Wesley Dean Deaderick, and great-grandmother of Winter Celeste Deaderick. Foster-sister Daisy Mae Wright. Daisy is the mother of Brian Keith Studvant, Valerie (Wright) Williams. Allison Delyn Studvant predeceased her Aunt Ruth. Ruth also leaves to cherish her memory a host of foster nieces, nephews, and cousins. 

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