Ruth Lawson Cate was born at Baptist Hospital in Nashville, Tennessee on May 9, 1954. She was the first child of Dr. Robert Louis and Dorothy Wright Cate and was delivered by her father’s uncle, Dr. Tommy Frist. She grew up primarily in South Carolina.
Ruth attended the University of South Carolina Honors College where she was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in English in just two years, graduating in 1974. Ruth went to law school at the University of South Carolina and graduated in 1976. While attending the University of South Carolina, she worked at the State Legislature, where she was the second-ever female page, and subsequently the first female research assistant. Upon graduation, she moved to Spartanburg, South Carolina to take her first job.
In 1978, Ruth married Walter Ackermann, and they had two daughters, Evelyn and Frances. The girls were born 13 months apart and were the lights of her life. One of her biggest hopes for them was that they would always be close, no matter their differences, and that each would achieve sufficient academic and professional success as to always be self-sufficient. Watching these two things happen provided Ruth with incredible joy and satisfaction.
Ruth’s first marriage ended in 1994, and in 1996, she married the love of her life, Dr. Roy Charles “Chuck” White. They remained close partners until her death. She was always grateful for the way he guided and inspired her. He made her happy and secure and gave her terrific advice.
Ruth practiced law in Spartanburg until her retirement. She began her career with Henderson, Lister, Brandt and Couch, eventually becoming a named partner at the firm. In 1983 she was hired by Naegele Outdoor Advertising as Vice President of Corporate Development and General Counsel for the geographic region. Following that, she created a publishing entity that published TravelHost magazines throughout South Carolina, western North Carolina, and the western Smoky Mountain area of Tennessee. In 1996, she established The Cate Law Firm and practiced solely in the area of family law. She found this work meaningful, because she was frequently meeting clients on the worst days of their lives; together, they’d form a plan, and Ruth’s goal was always the same-to be there with that client when they got to turn the page and begin a new and better chapter of their lives. She loved that moment when a client hugged her and said, “It worked!”
Over Ruth’s career, she won many awards including the 2018-2019 Women United Leadership Award from United Way of the Piedmont; the 2015 Daniel Morgan Award from the United Way of the Piedmont; the 2015 Sustainer of the Year Award from the Junior League of Spartanburg; the 2014 Karen Mitchell Girl Scout Woman of Distinction Award from the Girl Scouts of South Carolina Mountains to Midlands; the 1994 Mentor of the Year Award from the Spartanburg Chamber of Commerce’s Minority Business Council; and the 1992 Omni Award for being the top TravelHost publisher in the nation. In 2007, Ruth was also recognized with the Volunteer Group of the Year Award for her work realigning and merging three Girl Scout councils.
As a lawyer, Ruth consistently received the Martindale-Hubbell A+ rating. She also frequently received their award for client satisfaction. She was named to the American Registry’s “Top Rated Lawyers in South Carolina” and the National Advocate’s “Top 100 Matrimonial Lawyers in South Carolina” for a number of years.
In South Carolina, Ruth served on numerous boards. Some of the organizations to benefit from her leadership and generosity include Children’s Cancer Partners of the Carolinas; Girl Scouts of South Carolina Mountains to Midlands; Wells Fargo’s Community Board of Advisors; the Mary Black Foundation (chair), the United Way’s Women’s Leadership Council, the South Carolina Bar’s Family Law Council (elected position); the South Carolina Junior League’s Board of Advisors; the Spartanburg Day School (board of directors); the Spartanburg County Accommodations Tax Committee (chair); and the Spartanburg Chamber of Commerce’s Convention and Visitors Bureau (chair).
Ruth retired in 2021, and she and Chuck moved to Nashville to be near her daughters and their families. She loved seeing her grandchildren grow up and also loved that the move brought her back to her roots and allowed her to reconnect with her extended family. Ruth and Chuck joined St. George’s Episcopal Church, and appreciated getting to know their church community, making new friends, and taking advantage of everything Nashville has to offer.
Upon moving to Nashville, Ruth had the opportunity to serve on the board of Belmont Mansion, where she was secretary, and to join the boards of YWCA Nashville & Middle Tennessee and the Girl Scouts of Nashville and Middle Tennessee.
Ruth was fascinated by ancient ruins. She explored Central America, Peru, Mexico, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, much of Europe, and most especially the Southwestern United States. To her friends’ shock and amusement, she willingly rented an RV-twice-to get to remote areas such as Chaco Canyon and Mesa Verde. She was fascinated by the art and architecture that these ancient peoples, working with primitive tools, left behind.
She was also an avid reader, especially of British mysteries, and loved cooking and entertaining. She most especially loved being with her family and making plans for family activities such as “Cousins Camp.”
Ruth is survived by her amazing husband, Dr. Charles White; two fabulous daughters, Evelyn Cate Galletti (Gabriel) and Dr. Frances Lawson Cate (Lawrence); and four charming and happy grandchildren, Carson Charles Luckey, Louis Gabriel Galletti, Robert Harrison Luckey, and Martha Cate Galletti. She adored and depended on her brothers, Robert Louis Cate, Jr. (Karen) and Fred Harrison Cate (Beth). Along the way Fred and Beth took up partial residence in Nashville and were a source of great support and joy. Ruth had many devoted cousins and is especially appreciative of Emily Austin Fowler (Randy).
She was predeceased by her parents Dr. Robert Louis Cate and Dorothy Wright Cate.
There will be a celebration of life service at the Parthenon at Centennial Park at 6:30 pm on Saturday, May 4, 2024. Ruth drew inspiration from the independence and determination exhibited in the story of Adelicia Acklen, the proprietor of the Belmont Mansion. https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/nashville-tn
In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution to The Ruth Cate Fund at the Belmont Mansion at 1900 Belmont Blvd.; Nashville, TN, 37212 or by contacting Deputy Director Lauren Batte at [email protected] or 615-460-5459.
For more obituaries visit https://davidsoncountysource.com/obituaries/
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