Evangelist Ruth Yvonne Dove of Suffolk, Va., passed away peacefully, surrounded by family on
January 13, 2023. Ruth was born May 30, 1935, in Brooklyn, New York to the late Sidney Foster Sr
and Alma Riddick Foster. She attended and graduated from Sarah J. Hale High School in Brooklyn,
New York.
Even as a young girl, Ruth displayed fierce love and protection for her two brothers, Sidney and
Winston and her two sisters, Ened and Doris. Ruth was always willing to stand up to anybody
concerning her siblings because her mother left her in charge when her parents went to work. Ruth
became a second mother to her siblings and they had to obey her without question. Along with
school, Ruth had the duties and responsibilities of running the house and caring for her brothers
and sisters. Ruth at 9 years of age could cook a whole full course meal including dessert.
After graduation from high school, Ruth expanded her skills through on-the-job training at Beth
Israel Hospital, located in Manhattan, New York, as a Nurse’s Aid and remained in the field for
nearly a decade. When the doors opened, Ruth developed and mastered the skills that allowed her
to become an accomplished seamstress and certified tailor, creating delicate designs and
incorporating her own spin on cotillion dresses, sweaters, wedding gowns, Afghans, and crocheting
entire baby ensembles valuing in the hundreds of dollars. The love for needlework was shared with
young ladies she mentored as a Girl Scout volunteer assistant. Additionally, she was a certified
daycare provider, and a dietician in the state of New York.
Ruth met and married the love of her life, Army soldier and later Air Force Airman First Class
Raymond Dove Jr. of Havelock, N.C. at Zion Bethel Baptist Church on May 03, 1957. Out of the
union four sons, Eric, Derrick, Laddie, and Delton were lovingly nurtured. After the passing of her
husband Raymond on July 06, 1974, Ruth soon began to hear and heed the call of The Master and
accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as her personal Savior. As a devout Christian and with God still
working on her, Ruth accepted her evangelistic calling and began her training and received her
license from Tabernacle of One Accord Deliverance Center of Hempstead, New York as an
Evangelist in 1985.
With a true servant’s heart, Ruth increased her church service training while attending Mt. Sinai
Baptist Church in Roosevelt, Long Island and Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Brooklyn, NY. Anyone who
knew Ruth knew that she was proud of having received her ushering credentials from the National
United Ushers Association of America Incorporated, and that she was a certified card-carrying
usher. In the founding days of Christian Way Ministries of Virginia Beach, Va, Ruth found immense
joy in establishing the usher ministry.
In 1996, Evangelist Dove relocated to Portsmouth, VA., and in the early 2000’s continued her
Christian education at the Suffolk satellite location of Virginia University of Lynchburg in Theological
Studies. Furthermore, she served in supporting ministries, such as kitchen, hospitality, knitting, jail,
evangelism, intercessory prayer, and Feed My Sheep at New Hope Baptist Church of Chesapeake,
VA where her brother pastored. Upon the passing of her brother, Evangelist Dove continued working
for The Lord at Saint Mary’s UHC, Christian Way Ministries, Little Bethel Baptist, and Canaan
Baptist. In addition to biblical courses and studies, Evangelist Dove was a member of the Tuesday
Noonday Prayer Warriors of Suffolk and the Midweek Prayer Group at Canaan Baptist. COVID might
have limited church attendance at Canaan Baptist, but it did not stop her from ministering to so

many individually. For several years, Ruth shared in prayer at Jerusalem United Holy Church. Friday
was telephone family prayer time and her sons expected the daily prayers. In
her home, in stores, on streets, on trains, (etc.), one could expect a prayer or prophetic word from
Evangelist Dove.
When you first met Ruth Dove (Granny), you were immediately adopted into her family. She freely
and regularly cared for children to assist struggling mothers. The children became her children and
she cared for them as if they were her own…taking them on trips and making sure that they were
correctly clothed. Granny was also a “Mother to all mothers”, counseling them and introducing
them to the love of Christ. She truly had a passion for God and it manifested itself in having a true
passion for others. As a volunteer for cancer patients receiving treatment, Granny brought a special
anointed love.
When Granny introduced herself to you, she would ask you “How are you doing?” and then work in
this question: “Do you know Christ? Are you saved?” She would then firmly talk to you about who
Christ was and what He could do to help any situation. Before Granny left you, she would say’ “Let
us pray together before you go.”
Those who mourn the passing of Evangelist Ruth Dove include her sons: Eric of Pennsylvania;
Laddie (Patricia) of New York and Delton of Virginia: sisters Ened Bruce-Tagoe, and Doris Dillahunt
of New York and adopted sister Lavinia Boyd of New York: brother Winston Eleazor Foster of
Missouri: daughter-in-law Marsha Dove of Virginia: sister-in-law Joyce Foster of Virginia:
grandchildren Tyronne Hurst, Treonne Hurst-Sanders (Shermon), Donnell Dove(Whitney), Ashley
Woodson, Laddie Foster II, Kristina Foster, Anastasia Peele, Brandon Baker, Selita White: godson
Kevin Montgomery (Barbara):adopted son James Tucker: Adopted Daughters Alita Herrell and
Michelle Peele; numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, adopted children, church families, prayer
warriors, friends, and neighbors.
Service will be streamed on church’s Facebook and YouTube sites.
https://www.facebook.com/share/1B58j2WVpe/
https://www.youtube.com/@canaanbaptistchurchsuffolk6841