Ruth Jordan

A SHINING LIGHT - A BEACON OF HOPE - A LESSON ON GIVING

Ruth Ellen Cox Jordan, daughter of the late Reverend John M. and Corrie Lee King Cox, was born on September 3, 1927, in Easley, South Carolina. She was called to eternal rest on April 5, 2017. In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her siblings Reginald DuBois Cox, Fannie Lee Cox Williams, Gertrude Elizabeth Cox Jeffcoat, and Louise Cox Worthy.

She was educated in the public schools of Pickens County and graduated from Simpson High School in Easley.

At the age of eleven, she walked three miles every Sunday to Easley Chapel United Methodist Church, arriving one hour before morning services and received free piano lessons. One of the conditions for the free lessons was that she had to learn a hymn to play for Sunday school. She played “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” every week until she learned it completely. There was no piano at her home, but Ruth did not allow that circumstance to interfere with her musical aspiration. As a result, she found a very creative way to study her music. She would put a picture of the notes of the piano on the wall and study it at night while all other family members were sleeping. Sometimes it takes an entire lifetime to learn the virtue of determination and the reward of patience. Occasionally, we are blessed by the presence of those individuals who are born with these qualities and are willing to put them into practice. Such is the case of Mrs. Ruth Ellen Cox Jordan. It was also at the age of eleven that Ruth, a very gifted young lady, became the church musician, and played the piano for Sunday school and morning worship at Easley Chapel United Methodist Church.

After graduating from South Carolina State College with a degree in education, Ruth Cox married Ira S. Jordan, a Methodist minister, now deceased. To this union, no child was born.
A role model and mentor, Mrs. Jordan had a strong passion for children and was dedicated to their success. She taught English at Clearview High School in Easley for eleven years and briefly taught at Easley High and Dacusville Elementary School. She also taught in Barnwell, Chester, Pickens, Greenville, York, and Spartanburg Counties. Continuing her education, she earned a Master’s Degree at South Carolina State College and certification in English, Social Studies, and public school music. Mrs. Jordan became certified as a Special Education teacher specialist with an emphasis on Learning Disabilities.

Mrs. Jordan was the church musician for most of the churches where Reverend Jordan served as pastor. Her interest and love for music spans beyond playing for churches. It is most admirable that Mrs. Jordan taught free piano lessons to children and adults for more than 65 years. Her faithfulness to her church, John Wesley United Methodist in Greenville, South Carolina, includes having served as a Sunday school teacher and superintendent for several years, coordinator of vacation Bible school, and for several years she organized music festivals. She would invite her piano students as well as others in the surrounding Greenville area to sing, play an instrument, or present dramatic interpretations. The church was a natural part of Mrs. Jordan’s life. Many knew Mrs. Jordan to love the Lord and she allowed her faith to reign supreme. She served in several organizations at John Wesley including United Methodist Women and held positions of vice-president and later as secretary and also worked with the Resource Reading program within this organization. Additionally, she served on the Administrative Council and was a member of the WEL (We Enjoy Life) Bible study group, faithfully maintained the church’s calendar for many years, and was musician for the children’s

choir. Her community affiliations included secretary of the SCEA (South Carolina Education Association of retired teachers). Inspired by the resilience of her mother, Mrs. Jordan worked diligently with the National Federation of the Blind for Greenville County. In her honor, the National Federation of the Blind established Ruth C. Jordan Scholarship fund and thus awards a scholarship to a blind student each year. She spoke of having had “walking” pneumonia during her early years and was cared for by her mother.

Although Mrs. Jordan’s mother was blind, she was still able provide and care for her children. Mrs. Jordan was determined that, “If mother could do what she did when she couldn’t see, then I could be doing so much more.” Because of the inspiration she gave during her lifetime, Rocky Bottom Camp for the Blind named their Braille library in memory of her mother.

Interested in the education of others, Mrs. Jordan established a scholarship at Claflin University in memory of her husband. In her unselfish giving, she purchased a stained glass window at the new chapel at Claflin and purchased a piano for John Wesley United Methodist Church also in memory of her husband.

Mrs. Jordan’s life has had a positive impact on individuals who were blessed to have known her. She enjoyed a life of service and chose this poem as her motto:

One hundred years from now
It will not matter what kind of car I drove,
What kind of house I lived in
How much money I had in my bank account,
Nor what my clothes looked like.
But the world may be a little better because
I was important in the life of a child.