This June 10, Ruth Bell Graham would have celebrated her 106th birthday. While millions knew her as the wife of evangelist Billy Graham, those who had the privilege of knowing Ruth personally knew a woman of remarkable depth, talent and vibrant personality. In addition to being a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, Ruth was also a prolific writer, poet and artist whose quick wit and playful spirit brought joy to all who knew her.

Kerri Bruce, director of historical collections at the Billy Graham Archive and Research Center, worked closely with Billy and Ruth Graham for many years alongside her husband, David Bruce, who served as Billy Graham’s executive assistant from 1995 until the evangelist’s death in 2018.

Drawing from her firsthand knowledge of Ruth, Kerri has selected the following quotes that reflect Ruth’s sharp wit and sense of humor:

1. A television talk show host once asked Ruth Graham whether, as a Christian, she had ever contemplated divorce. Ruth replied, “Divorce? No. Murder? Yes.”
2. “Every cat knows some things need to be buried.”
3. While driving, Ruth accidentally hit the accelerator instead of the brake, sending her car crashing through a fence. No one was hurt, but Billy Graham, who was in California at the time, called and insisted that she surrender her driver’s license. Ruth stood her ground. After a long moment of silence, Billy said, “I don’t recall reading in Scripture that Sarah ever talked to Abraham like this.”
   
   Without missing a beat, Ruth replied, “Well, I don’t recall reading in Scripture that Abraham ever tried to take Sarah’s camel away from her.”
4. “God has not always answered my prayers. If He had, I would have married the wrong man … several times!”
5. Speaking about disagreeable people, Ruth once said, “No person is absolutely unnecessary. One can always serve as a horrible example.”
6. Ruth once planned to write a memoir titled “How to Marry a Preacher and Remain a Christian.” Although she never completed the manuscript, the title alone reflects her trademark humor.
7. When discussing marriage, Ruth used to say, “There was a time to submit, and a time to outwit.”
8. Ruth Graham frequently expressed her humor, insight and heartfelt reflections through poetry. The following poem is a playful tribute to Charles, the man who married Billy Graham’s first college sweetheart, Emily. Charles and Billy were friends at Florida Bible Institute, and Emily ultimately chose Charles over the young Billy Graham. Ruth wrote this lighthearted “ode” to Charles:

“The night
Bill told me
he loved me
What
did he discuss.
Us?
No.
Emily!

Emily was the girl that Billy “almost” married.

Beautiful.
Sweet.
Talented.
Spiritual.
(And second cousin to Herbert Hoover!)
Emily!
I got madder.
(not sadder).
just madder and madder
till blam!
with a slam,
we rammed
into a truck
(what luck!)
(he was so busy looking back he couldn’t see
where he was going. There’s a moral here;
but we won’t belabor it.)
Still ….
there were no quarrels
thanks to Charles (Emily’s husband.)

I met her
years later
and knew
I would hate her.
I hoped,
without praying
(that goes without saying).
But I had hoped
(how I hoped!)
by now
she’d become
fat and dumb.

Well?
She was a doll!
What’s more,
after all.
I liked her!
She’d earned all those laurels.
Still.
Thank you, Charles.

Thus
by the happy twists
of life
folks pair off
as man and wife,
and children come
to bless each home: 
Gigi,
Charles,
Anne,
Caroline,
Bunny,
Joyce,
Franklin,
David,
Ned.

This is the moral
of my ode
(if this is an ode,
and if odes have morals):
Thank you, Charles.

Join us June 8-13 at the Billy Graham Library for Ruth Bell Graham Remembered, a special week honoring Ruth’s life and legacy. Enjoy special offers throughout the week and receive an exclusive gift on Ruth’s birthday, June 10. Learn more and plan your next visit.