Ola Ruth Graves

Ola Ruth Graves was born on January 16, 1938, in Monroe, Arkansas, to William Lawrence McGuire and Ada Estelle McGuire. She was the third of four sisters: Winifred Newman, Mary Edgar, and Ramona Burton. Ruth passed away on March 11, 2026, in the early morning hours at a care home in Arlington, Tennessee.

As the second-to-youngest daughter of a cotton farmer, Ruth learned early to speak up for herself and to give generously to others. She also developed a deep respect for hard work that stayed with her throughout her life. On August 31, 1963, she married her longtime best friend, John “Johnny” Howard Edwards, in Humboldt, Tennessee. Their marriage was a true love story filled with laughter and devotion. Together they had two children: Kevin McGuire Edwards, who was born and passed away on November 8, 1965, and Ramona Rae Edwards, born September 11, 1967. Ruth carried Kevin in her heart always. After 40 years of marriage, Johnny passed away on April 14, 2004, in Germantown, Tennessee.

In 2012, Ruth found love again. On June 29 of that year, she married James “Jim” Robert Graves in Collierville, Tennessee. They shared seven loving years together until Jim’s passing on November 26, 2019. Ruth worked proudly for FedEx for nearly twenty years and remained active in the United Methodist Church, serving in many roles, including with the United Methodist Women and the Methodist Auxiliary Women’s group at local hospitals.

Above all, Ruth cherished her role as grandmother. To her grandchildren, Erin Cardosi and Joey Cardosi, and to many of their friends, she was simply “Granny.” She delighted in feeding anyone who entered her home and took great joy in caring for others. Her greatest pride was her daughter, Ramona Dugger (David). She is also survived by her step-daughter, Margaret “Margie” Graves. Ruth was known for her endless supply of stories, especially those about her children and grandchildren. She has now been reunited with her son Kevin, her parents, her sisters, and her two beloved husbands.