Ruth “Tootie” Howard Chenault

Ruth “Tootie” Howard Chenault, age 73, of Paris, passed away on Sept. 21, 2026, in the same town where she was born on Nov. 20, 1952, and where her life became a lasting example of kindness, faith and devotion.
She was the beloved wife of almost 54 years to Raymond Chenault, Sr., and together they built a life rooted in love, commitment, and perseverance. She was a devoted mother to her son, Raymond (Kristi) Chenault, Jr., and she found great joy in her family, who were the center of her heart and the source of so many of her happiest moments. She was also blessed with five grandchildren, Tavis Lamar Chenault, Brayden Chase Chenault, Deon Orlando Renfro, Ray Smoot and Kamren Smoot, as well as four great-grandchildren, Ky’Mir Carson, Tavis Lamar Chenault, Jr., Karter Marie Smoot and Isabella Anthony, each of whom brought light and pride into her life.
She is survived by her sisters, Charlotte Howard, Yvonne Howard and Anita Howard Hall, along with her special nieces, Barbara Jean Robinson, Miranda Richardson, Jessica Jackson, Janay Robinson and Victoria Rusk; her special nephew, Dwight Badgett, her special cousins, Mary Roy and Charlesetta Cunningham, her brothers-in-law, David Oliver, Darnell Hall and Alvin Taylor, and a host of other nieces, nephews and cousins who will carry her memory forward with love. She also leaves behind her special neighbor, Constance Nutter, and her cherished friends, Anna Lee Hoey, Roberto Omego, Edith Mae Roberts, Sabrina Penny, Charlene Garr, Jan Sims, Minnie Trumbo and Laura Fields; special family, Pastor William K. Garr, Wallis (Nicole) Brooks, Taylor family, Ty (Sheila) Crumbie and Joann and Melody Black, all of whom were touched by her warmth and steady spirit.
Ruth was preceded in death by her parents, Charles “Doc” Howard and Mary Allen Howard, and by her siblings, Mary Howard Hardin, Brice Howard, Gloria Howard, Mildred Howard Chenault, Julius Howard, Lena Howard and Teresa Howard. Though she experienced loss in her lifetime, she continued to live with grace, strength, and a heart that refused to give up on love or faith.
She graduated from Paris High School and went on to serve others through her work as a seamstress at Hansley Mills and later in daycare for Community Action. In every role she held, she brought care, patience, and a strong work ethic. She understood that service is not just something we do, but something we become. Her life was a testimony that ordinary work, when done with an extraordinary spirit, can bless countless people.
Ruth was a faithful 60-year member of Seventh Street Christian Church, where her Christian faith remained a guiding force throughout her life. She lived by the words she often spoke, that if she could help someone along this journey, her living would not be in vain. She also held tightly to the truth that what God has for her, it is for her. Those words were not just sayings to her. They were the foundation of how she faced life, how she encouraged others, and how she kept moving forward with courage and trust.
She loved her family deeply, and she also enjoyed going to yard sales, finding joy in simple pleasures and in the everyday moments that made life meaningful. Those who knew Ruth will remember her as kind, thoughtful, and faith-filled. She had a way of making people feel seen, valued, and encouraged. Her presence was steady, her heart was generous, and her example was powerful.
Ruth Howard Chenault lived a life that spoke loudly without needing to shout. She showed that faith can carry you through, love can anchor you, and kindness can leave a legacy that outlives the years. Her journey on this earth has ended, but the impact of her life remains. She will be remembered not only for what she did, but for who she was, a woman of grace, a woman of strength, and a woman whose life reminded others to keep believing, keep loving, and keep trusting God.
Funeral services will be conducted 1 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026, at the First Christian Church, 911 High St., Paris by Rev. William Garr and Minister Lola Garr. Burial will follow in the Evergreen Memory Gardens, Paris.
Visitation will be from 11 a.m., Saturday, Oct.3, 2026, until the hour of service at the church.
Pallbearers will be Tyrell Howard, Henry Howard, Derek Brooks, Marcius Garr, Mitchell Chenault, Sr., Dorian Robinson, David Oliver, Jr. and Charles Oliver.
The funeral arrangements were entrusted to the Lusk-McFarland Funeral Home Chapel, 1120 Main St., Paris. The online guestbook is at www.Lusk-McFarland.com and on our Facebook and YouTube page.