Ruth Axelrod Addlestone

Ruth Axelrod Addlestone, 100 years old, of Charleston, South Carolina, passed away peacefully Wednesday, May 6, 2015. Her graveside service will be held Friday, May 8, 2015 in Greenwood Cemetery, 1173 Cascade Circle SW, Atlanta, Georgia, at 12:00 p.m. Arrangements by J. Henry Stuhr, Inc., Downtown Chapel and Dressler's Funeral Care in Atlanta. Her family will sit shiva at the home of Nico and Susan Berlijn, 1589 Spinnaker Lane, Charleston, SC, Sunday and Monday, May 10 and 11, from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. each day.

Ruth was born December 27, 1914, in Montgomery, Alabama, daughter of Samuel Axelrod (OBM) and Tillie Cohen Axelrod (OBM). As a young girl, she moved with her family to Brooklyn, NY, where she attended Erasmus High and then entered Hunter College. Having moved to Savannah, GA, in her twenties, she met and married her husband of 42 years, Nathan Addlestone (OBM). They lived in Sumter, SC, for 25 years before moving to Charleston. Their love of Judaism and passion for education fueled their support for the Addlestone Hebrew Academy, which had always been important to her. After living in Boca Raton, FL, for many years Ruth returned to Charleston with her loving companion, Elsie.

Ruth will always be remembered as a warm, generous, and loving woman, a true southern lady. An ever gracious hostess, she welcomed all visitors to her home with a bright smile and kind words. She was well-loved and respected by her family and all who knew her. She stood for a life of principle and integrity and was devoted to her family. Her passionate interests in reading, gardening, and the performing arts, especially theatre, remain a legacy to her children.

Ruth is survived by her two daughters, Carole Addlestone and Susan Addlestone Berlijn (Nico) of Charleston, SC; her two grandsons, Jeremy Levkoff (Kate) of Brooklyn, NY, and Joshua Levkoff of New York, NY; a great grandson, Wylder Levkoff, and two great granddaughters, Edith and Mavis Levkoff; step-grandchildren Hagar (Jon and Hana) and Raviv Berlin; and her two dedicated and loyal caregivers, Elsaida DeSouza and Cassandra Green, who were truly a part of our family.

Memorials may be made to the Addlestone Hebrew Academy, 1639 Raoul Wallenberg Blvd., Charleston, SC 29407.