Ruth Rebecca Chukwu

On Monday, March 2, 2026, Ruth Rebecca (Gilliam) Chukwu peacefully entered eternal rest.

Ruth was born on June 18, 1947, in Dinwiddie, VA to Corrie (Fields) Gilliam and Thomas Gilliam.  She was the youngest of 10 children with her mother Corrie passing away at her birth.  She would later move to the Alexandra VA area with her father, attending Parker Gray High School and graduating from Eastern High School in Washington, DC.

Ruth gave birth to Teresa A. Howard in 1963 and James E. Dunkley in 1968.  She later met and married her husband, Clement Chukwu in 2011.  They were together until his death in 2016.

Never one to stand still, Ruth pursued several careers, each reflecting her passion and determination. She started her own business, operating a food truck, and spent time as a DC police officer.  She would find a home with Montgomery County in 1984 working for Ride-On until her retirement in 2006. Her lifelong faith and love of the Lord would lead her to Pilgrim Baptist Church where she would become a member in 2000.  She was an avid bowler in her younger years, took typing and computer classes while working, and found joy playing Pokeno and Bingo in her later years. Through her work and leisure activities, she was able to develop great friendships that would last a lifetime.

Ruth was preceded in death by her parents Thomas and Corrie Gilliam, husband Clement Chukwu, sisters Mitty (Fields) Coleman, Annabelle Fields, and brother William Gilliam.

She is survived by her daughter Teresa A. Howard and son James E. Dunkley, step-children Linda, Joel, Abigail, and Goodness Chukwu, six grandchildren Nathaniel (Jennifer) Williams, III, Jamesha N. Edmond, Jamica E. Edmond, Natalie R. Williams, Anthony J. Williams and Sierra I. Young;  great grandchildren, Carter A. Wiggins, Alexander N. Williams, Camden Hammond, Eric J. Williams, Isom S. Jackson, Zaria M. Cooper ; sisters Esther Robinson, Mary E. McElroy, Lucy L. Williams, Christine Perry, and brothers Herbert Fields and James Gilliam; “grandsons” Anthony Edmond & Stephon Young, and a host of nieces, nephews, grand nieces, grand nephews, other relatives, friends, and her “doggy” grandbabies, Lilo, Java, and Nunu.

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