Ruth Jane Whitlow Mitcham

Ruth Whitlow Mitcham, 77, passed away peacefully on March 28,2025 at the Hospice of Davidson Country in Lexington, NC. Ruth was born on June 4, 1947 in Anderson, South Carolina, to the late Lynn Broughten Whitlow and Ellen Pruitt Whitlow and grew up in Lavonia, Georgia. Ruth graduated from Franklin County High School in 1965 and went on to graduate from the University of Georgia with a B.S. Degree in Pharmacy, a Masters Degree in Pharmaceutics and minor in Adult Education; she did additional graduate studies in Pharmacy Administration. During her college years, Ruth was active in many student organizations; she served as the President of the Honors Dorm and was recognized as one of thirty-eight students named to Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities at the University of Georgia.

After college, Ruth met and married Michael Simpson Mitcham and together they raised their son, David Michael Mitcham.

Professionally, Ruth was a member of the Georgia Pharmacy Association, North Carolina Pharmacy Association, National Community Pharmacists Association and Northwest Pharmacists Association. When she retired, she was a pharmacist for CVS Pharmacy and actually opened the CVS on Center Street in Lexington NC.

Ruth was an avid sports fan of the University of Georgia Bulldogs and Clemson University Tigers. She enjoyed playing tennis and golf, reading and cross stitching. She thoroughly enjoyed organizing and planning day trips for the adults at First Baptist Church.

Ruth’s love of nature led her to become a Master Gardener; this passion persisted and over the course of her life she expertly served in many leadership roles; she was President of the Gardenmakers Association of Lexington, NC, President and Vice President of the State of North Carolina Volunteer Master Gardener Association, and Vice President of Davidson County Advisory Leadership Board. Until her death, Ruth was serving as a Liaison to the Board of Gardening Association of North Carolina. Ruth was very appreciative of the members of the DCEMGVA (Davidson County Extension Master Gardener Volunteer Association) for their hard work, support and service to Davidson County. She was grateful to the staff of Davidson County Agriculture Cooperative Extension office for their research-based knowledge and ongoing help they provide to the citizens of Davidson County.

Ruth was preceded in death by Mike, her beloved husband of 47 years, in 2023. She is survived by her son, David Michael Mitcham and wife, Kelly of Lexington, and her beloved granddaughter, Natalee. She is also survived by her brother, Dr. Michael Whitlow and sister-in-law, Dr. Cheryl Newman Whitlow of Augusta Georgia and their sons, her nephews, Michael Broughten, John Allen and Benjamin Russell Whitlow; and her step children, Gregg Mitcham, Chris Mitcham, and Tanya Rogers. She and the family are especially appreciative of the continued love, support and friendship of her Sunday School class and church family and the Master Gardeners throughout her prolonged illness.

The Service of Remembrance will be at 2 pm on Saturday April 5, 2025 at the First Baptist Church of Lexington with visitation there at 1 pm before the service.

Memorials may be given to her church at FBCLex.org, Victory Junction (https://victoryjunction.org ) and the American Cancer Society.