Anna Ruth Sturgill

Anna Ruth Sturgill, 85, went to be with the Lord that she loves dearly on June 15, 2024. She was born in the Ramsey community of Norton, VA, as the eleventh of fourteen children born to the marriage of Robert Lee Wilson and Julia Elizabeth Fulks Wilson. It is said that all of the siblings, with the exception of Franklin “D”, were delivered by their maternal grandmother, Martha Sedelia “Delia” Fulks, who was a midwife in the area. She was called “Ann” by her family and was called both Ann and Anna by friends. Anna worked hard and had a long and varied work history that began in her teens at the Royal Laundry in Norton, VA, and continued until her late 70’s as a caregiver for many special people. Although her husband’s career prompted her to move away from her childhood home, she always had a special place in her heart for the people of Norton and Wise County, VA, eventually settling nearby in eastern Tennessee. She enjoyed going to church and liked to praise the Lord. Anna also enjoyed gospel music, reunions, family get-togethers, and going out to eat. At times she liked to travel and was able to achieve her goal of being in all 50 states. She also had taken a special trip to Israel and another to Normandy, France to visit the gravesite of her cousin, Evert Flanary, who was a solider in the D-Day invasion, as well as visiting some other countries and islands. Anna had a sense of patriotism and had an interest in the affairs that affected the country in which she lived. In her later years, she could be found thanking veterans for their service when she saw them out in public. She was a special wife, mother, daughter, sister, and aunt who will be missed.

 In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Jimmy Sturgill; sisters, Martha, Clarsie, Hazel, Nella “Nell” and Lana “Kay”; brothers, Charles Ray, Harold, James “Jim”, Robert Jr., Marion, and Franklin “D”.

She is survived by her daughter, Elaine Sturgill; sisters, Sarah Dotson and husband James Swanson, and Bernice Adams; half-brother, Timothy Wilson; and several nieces and nephews.

 The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, June 19, 2024, at North Kingsport Church of God. The funeral service will follow with Pastor Victor Alley and Pastor Timothy Owen officiating.

 Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. on Thursday, June 20, 2024, at the Laurel Grove Cemetery, 4805 Kentucky Ave SE, Norton , VA 24273.

 Honorary pallbearers will be Jeff Gardner, Jeff Kinsler, Greg Adams, Johnny Kilgore, and Slava Kilgore.

 Thank you to the staff at Wexford House, her caregivers, and everyone who offered prayers or acts of kindness. It had truly meant so much.

 In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to North Kingsport Church of God, 2409 N John B. Dennis Hwy, Kingsport, TN 37660, or to the Bloomingdale Volunteer Fire Department, 3017 N John B. Dennis Hwy, Kingsport, TN 37660.