Ruth Pressley

Ruth Pressley, 77, of High Point, North Carolina, passed away on Saturday, March 7, 2026, at Moses Cone Hospital. Born on January 1, 1949, in Greensboro to Emerson Allred Jr. and Annice Hicks, she was the third of six siblings and a trailblazer in her community. Ruth was the first African American to graduate from Lucy Ragsdale High School after completing her earlier education at Florence Elementary and William Penn High School during the era of school desegregation.

A dedicated worker, Ruth began her career at Silver Net and Influential Hosiery Mills before retiring from the High Point Post Office after 17 years of service. She later became deeply involved in the trucking industry, earning the affectionate nickname “Mother Trucker” for the care she showed to drivers. In 2010 she served as second-in-command for There Trucking, and in 2017 she founded That’s Trucking, remaining active in the business for more than a decade. She took quiet joy in surprising Kevin and the other drivers at the yard, tending to her flowers, sharing meals, playing the numbers, and capturing candid photographs of loved ones when they least expected it. Above all, Ruth was happiest surrounded by family, especially her sisters, her two favorite gentlemen Kevin and Darrell, and her longtime companion of more than 20 years, Marion “Bob” McRae.

She was preceded in death by her granddaughter Tiara Pressley Shiffer, brother Mac Arthur Allred Sr., sister Faye Allred Phillips, brothers-in-law Alvin Phillips and Ned Briley Sr., sister-in-law Daisy White Allred, nephews Tyler James Briley and Wilson Moore III, and niece Lauren Johnson.

Ruth is survived by her sons Darrell Pressley Sr. of Parrish, Florida, and Kevin Pressley Sr. of High Point; her companion Marion McRae of High Point; sisters Bernice Briley of High Point and Helen Pemberton (George) of Salisbury; brother James Allred (Johnsie) of Greensboro; grandchildren Hannah Johnson, Darrell Pressley Jr. (Sancia) of Florida, Laddie Pressley, Kevin Pressley Jr. of High Point, and Khairy Pressley of Greensboro; and great-grandchildren Samara Pressley, Sariah Pressley of Florida, Akai Khareem Parker Pressley of Greensboro, and Leighla Elise Marshall Pressley of High Point. She leaves behind many whose lives she touched with her strength, humor, and quiet generosity.