Ruth Robbins “Gerrie” Porter, dear friend, devoted wife, loving mother, grandmother, voracious reader and gracious gourmand, died on Tuesday, June 23, 2015, at her home in Richmond, Virginia.

Gerrie was born on December 3, 1947, in Bremerhaven, Germany to Colonel Edward S. and Dorothy D. Robbins, who predeceased her. She is survived by her husband John Cheairs Porter of Richmond and two sons, John Cheairs Porter, Jr. (Sarah) also of Richmond, and Edward Robbins Porter of Vancouver, B.C. ; three grandchildren, John Cheairs Porter, III (Jack), William Dunbar Porter and Lillian Mayes Porter; sister Katherine Robbins Leiken, nephews Benjamin Leiken of San Francisco and Samuel Leiken of Santa Barbara, CA.

Gerrie was an accomplished world traveler, even at a very young age. She shared her passion for travel with family and friends on trips from Greenland to Antarctica (and countless destinations in between) and earned her title as “The Navigator” for her grace under pressure and uncanny ability to find shortcuts and sweet spots.

Growing up as an Army brat, Gerrie attended far too many high schools, which partly accounted for her prowess as an undefeated champion of Trivial Pursuit. Her taste in rock-n-roll was reflective of her love for music and charmingly defiant nature and can be traced to bootlegging the Beatles on the BBC, recorded reel-to-reel while living in France. She also learned to speak French better than most of the world’s francophones, a skill she retained in perfect working order despite only occasional practice.

She attended Hollins University in Roanoke, Virginia and graduated from the University of Missouri – St. Louis. Her field of study was 18th century French Literature. Her shortlist of most honorable career moves included French language teaching and home-making. She began the latter with her marriage to John Porter on February 13, 1971, and a move to Columbia, Tennessee.

During the more than 30 years she lived in Columbia, Gerrie was an active member of her community, especially at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church where she served on the flower guild. She also served as president of the James K. Polk Memorial Association and was active in starting the Friends of Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital in Maury County. She read – and miraculously, meticulously retained – most everything published in the English language. And if she hadn’t read it, she had read the review. She loved to garden and tolerated dogs (that enjoyed lounging in her garden). Her needlepoint projects became more ambitious over time, including a trio of epic Christmas stockings for her grandchildren.

To say Gerrie loved to cook would be a most negligent understatement: her cooking was synonymous with her role as family and village matriarch. Her culinary creations – even the accidents – were famously delicious and the centerpiece of family gatherings and celebrations with friends. Her amazing chocolate chip cookies nourished the character development of both her sons and nephews (and their friends) as they grew into responsible adulthood. Her green sauce was the divine compliment to John’s slow-roasted pork barbeque.

Memorial services will be held in Columbia at a future date to be determined by the family and will be announced in this paper. Memorials can be made to: St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, 311 W. Seventh Street, Columbia, TN 38401, James K. Polk Memorial Association, P.O. Box 741, Columbia, TN, or St. John’s Church, c/o St. Peter’s.