ARRIE JIMMIE-BEE WINSTON TRUETT was one of fifteen children born to the late Early and Gennie Mae Winston in Lanett, Alabama. She received Christ at an early age and was baptized in Greenwood Baptist Church. She attended Lanier High School. As the eldest daughter she shared many of the household responsibilities with her mother. Her ability to successfully run a household earned her the nickname of “granny" to her younger siblings.

Arrie met and married her husband, John David (J.D.)
Truett, Sr. of the same community after his return from
WWII. As a part of her Christian faith, she welcomed her
husband's four children from a previous marriage as well
as a daughter from her previous marriage into their house­
hold. The move to Cleveland, Ohio was initiated by her
husband's acceptance of a job offer. Into their union, four
additional children were born where they remained for the
rest of their lives together. Arrie made her family a main
priority in her life, taking an active part in her neighbor­
hood earning her the respected name of "MaDear" to many
of the friends of her children who sought guidance and a
safe haven during the troubled times in their lives. She was
a friend to all who entered her home, be it with a hot meal
or a kind word. Her culinary skills became well known
throughout the community. Her kitchen became well
known to many, especially to members of Temple Bap­
tist Church where she and her family took fellowship as
well as the school clubs and activities-of her children. She
participated in The Church Mission and The Ruth Circle (Mothers' Guild) in the church. She took pleasure in actively supporting her children's activities (Den Mother in The Cub Scouts of America, YMCA, St. Agnes Catholic
Charities). She remained a pillar of respect for the fifty-five
years she spent in that neighborhood.

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Mrs. Ruby Bryant became and remained a "sister" friend
for all those years, a friendship that remained a treasure
beyond expectation.

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Mrs. Truett was preceded in death by: her parents Early
and Gennie Mae Winston; husband John J.D. Truett, Sr.;
son J.D. Truett, Jr.; daughters, Glorious Annette Hardnett
and Ruby Dean Garrett; brothers Jimmie Lee Winston,
Clarence Winston, Jessie Winston and Welzy Winston;
sisters Dorothy Thompson, Betty Ware and Clara Winston.

She leaves to cherish in her memory three sons: John W.
Truett, Michael (M. Sandra) and James F. Truett; daugh
ters, Laverne Etheridge (Danny), Rosetta Patrick (Lewis)
and Glenda J. Heard; brothers, Early Winston Jr. and Lamar
O. Winston; sisters, Francis Boyd, Mildred (J.C.)Whitlow,
Genevieve Heard and Mattie R. Gross (Robert); grand
children, John W. Truett Jr.and Arriel Scott (that she raised
as her own), an array of grandchildren; sister-in-law, Dorothy Winston, a host
nieces, nephews, cousins and other relatives and friends.

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