Ruby Grace (Hill) Marrow was born in Snow Hill, North Carolina December 14, 1929 to Harvey Hill and Callie Mae (Gay) Hill. She passed away in Bolivar, Missouri March 22, 2018.
Grace was the oldest of six siblings. Her father was a farmer and she was one of his helpers. While he was raising tobacco, one of her jobs was to rid the crops (by hand) of the worms. She was far too squeamish for this job, so she got a clothespin and a pair of scissors. When someone looked her way, she diligently rid the fields of the fat, green worms. When no one was looking, she left them to fend for themselves. No wonder Grandpa was never a “rich tobacco farmer”.
After she turned 18 a young World War II prisoner of war vet by the name of Elbert Barrow came calling. They were married December 26, 1947 and to this union were born two girls, Barbara Gail and Rebecca Ann. Grace was a wife, mother, homemaker and pastor’s wife for many years. Everyone loved to put their feet under Grace’s table. She was such a delicious Southern cook. She was so love by Elbert. He used to say that he had grace two ways. He had the Grace of God and he had Grace. She was his queen.
Grace and Elbert pastored churches in Newport, Virginia, Thomasville, North Carolina, Graham North Carolina and Kinston, North Carolina. She was greatly loved as a pastor’s wife. She was a true “Southern Belle” in the eyes of her girls.
In May of 2016 she was no longer physically able to maintain her own home in Kinston. She moved to Missouri to be with her daughter. She was loved by the people of Lowry City and they often teased her just so they could hear her Southern drawl. She told her daughter, “I just can’t understand these people. They talk too fast.” She was so loved by so many!
She was preceded in death by her husband Elbert, her parents Harveoy and Callie and one sister Elsie Johnson.
Grace is survived by her sister, Vivian Elmore, Jean Blomber, Peggy Tugwell; brother, Carl Hill and his wife Glenda; daughters, Gail Elsey and husband Steve along with their children Allen, Anthony, Alicia, Andy and spouses and children and Becky Hartley and husband Burton along with their children Brent, Christy, Cherilyn, Kevin, Daniel, Tonya and Timothy along with their spouses and children. Survivors also include 20 great grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews and many friends.
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