The funeral services for the late Mrs. Melton Ruth Pickett of 232 Walnut Avenue, Ashburn, Georgia, who departed this life on Wednesday, March 1, 2023 at her residence, will be held on Saturday, March 11, 2023 at 1:00 p.m. from the Turner County Civic Center in Ashburn, Georgia. Elder J. C. Boler will deliver the Eulogy. Burial will follow in the Westview Memorial Cemetery in Ashburn, Georgia. Services may be viewed Facebook Live from the "Shipps Funeral Home" Facebook page or by clicking the Video Stream link on this site's Home Page.

Mrs. Ruth Pickett, known by family and friends as “Boot”, the daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Jasper and Lizzie Donaldson Bateman, was born on November 28, 1937 in Ashburn, Georgia.

She was educated in the Turner County Public School System and attended Eureka High School.

Ruth gave her life to Christ at an early age and joined the St. James Baptist Church in Inaha, Georgia. Later in life, she moved her membership to New Jerusalem Freewill Church in Ashburn, Georgia, where she served as a member of the Usher Board until her health began to decline; Ruth also served as a member of the Mother Board of New Jerusalem Freewill, and was ordained as the Mother of the Church.

Ruth was united in Holy Matrimony to Mr. David Pickett. This union was blessed with nine children. She was employed at the Egg House, M&W Sportswear, Duck Head apparel, and Dad & Ladder.

On Wednesday, March 1, 2023, God decided that Ruth needed the burdens of this world lifted off her shoulders and He called her Home to rest. Her parents, Jasper and Lizzie Bateman, her husband, David Pickett, a son, Freddie Bateman, six brothers and two sisters have all preceded her in death.

Ruth leaves to cherisher memories eight children, Eloise Walker, Barbara Johnson, Linda (Marvin) Mency, Derrick (Latasha) Pickett, Johnny James (Pat) Pickett, all of Ashburn, Georgia, David Pickett, Shirley (Danny) Hawk, both of Tifton, Georgia, Anthony Tyrone (Laverne) Pickett of Valdosta, Georgia; four special children that she raised as her own, Michael (Mia) Pickett of Warner Robins, Georgia, Jerome Holley, Kizzie Hampton, T’keyah (Chris ) Knight, all of Ashburn, Georgia; thirty-one grandchildren, eighty-one great grandchildren, twenty-four great great grandchildren; her brothers, Tommy C. (Sylvia) Bateman of Ashburn, Georgia, Reverend Jasper (Madella) Bateman of Sylvester, Georgia; her sisters, Essie Temple, Gloria (Charles) Edwards, both of Ashburn, Georgia; brother-in-law, Willie T. (Pat) Patrick of Atlanta, Georgia; sisters-in-law, Velma Patrick of Chicago, Illinois, Donna Bateman, Vivian Bateman, Willie Mae Bateman, Shirley Bateman, all of Ashburn, Georgia; a special cousin, Louis Donaldson; a special friend, Louella Lawson; one she loved as a daughter, Linda Martin, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins other relatives and friends.