Ruth-Ann Thompson is a renaissance woman, Belonging and Acceptance expert, and Kinship Care advocate. She is an international speaker, author, lyricist, soloist, comedian and character actor. She is known as the “Belonging Whisperer” and boldly whispers into spaces of pain, hardship and grief. Her work helps others to find places where they belong. Widowed at age 24, she pulls from personal experiences to weave honesty and humor into her “Sunshine in the Shadows” Grief Seminars. She poignantly tells her story in the autobiography “Dancing in My Tattered Pink Dress.”

 

She was recently nominated as a finalist in the Best Book Awards in Los Angeles, California. Known as “Mrs. T,” she has authored The Open Fielders children’s book series, created to encourage the hearts of children and parents. Her books focus on character development themes of diversity, gratitude, facing fears and acceptance of all abilities. 

 

Fall of 2018, Ruth-Ann became widowed for a second time. She has three living adult children, Jai, Austin and Alexandra and four grandchildren, Elijah, Jaidon, Shandon, and Ayonna. She lost her 28-year-old son, Brandon, in 2013 but holds to the promise "...when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold." (Job 23:10). 

 

She has developed a delightful comedic character, Gethel Z. Jones, the sassy senior citizen who thrills young and older alike with her down-to-earth antics. Gethel, who has her own zany unconventional style, is always looking for “the bus to Hawaii.” 

 

May of 2023, she graduated with her Bachelor of Science degree showing others that it's never too late to achieve your dreams.  She secretly desires to be a race car driver.