Ridgeway native and longtime educator Nora Ruth Pace celebrated her 100th birthday on February 1, with family, friends, and community leaders gathering to honor her legacy. The occasion was marked with official proclamations from Henry County Board of Supervisors Chairman Jim Adams, City of Martinsville Mayor L.C. Jones, and Ridgeway Vice Mayor Michael Bass, designating February 1 as Ruth Pace Day.
“There were a number of other dignitaries that sent written communications,” said the Rev. David L. Franklin, event organizer and one of Pace’s former students. Messages of recognition came from the office of President Donald Trump, U.S. senators, the Virginia House of Delegates, and Martinsville City Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Zebedee Talley Jr.
Pace received numerous birthday cards, and Franklin noted that she continues to receive them. Her most significant gift was the restoration and retuning of her Steinway & Sons Grand Piano. “Others who were there just didn’t know it was supposed to be regularly maintained in that fashion,” Franklin said. Additional donations will likely support its upkeep in the coming months.
Approximately 30 guests attended the celebration at Pace’s home, while others joined a separate gathering at Jerry’s Pizza, Pasta & Grill in Martinsville. “It went well. It was a good event, everyone enjoyed themselves. She seemed to enjoy it, and her nieces and other family members were there,” Franklin said.
During the celebration, family members shared stories about growing up with Pace, while friends and former students reflected on her profound impact on the community.
A graduate of Ridgeway Elementary and High School, Pace earned her Bachelor of Arts in Music from the University of Kentucky in 1945. She was an accomplished pianist and served as president of the music fraternity Phi Beta. She continued her education at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York, where she earned a master’s degree, and pursued additional graduate studies at Ithaca University, Juilliard, Oberlin, Westminster Choir School, Columbia University, James Madison University, and Union Theological Seminary in New York.
Throughout her career, Pace worked with esteemed conductors and educators, including Robert Shaw, Robert Fountain, Olaf Christiansen, Paul Christiansen, Fred Waring, Paul Salamunovich, and Clair McElfresh. She also studied conducting under Rise Jones and Margaret Hillis.
A lifelong member of Ridgeway United Methodist Church, Pace dedicated more than 50 years to teaching Sunday school, directing the choir, playing the organ and piano, and serving on numerous church committees.
Pace taught choir music in Martinsville City Public Schools for 40 years, retiring in 1985. She initially taught at all grade levels before becoming a full-time instructor at Martinsville High School, where she played a key role in designing the school’s music building. In 1951, she received a Ford Foundation grant, allowing her to spend a year studying music and attending workshops in New York City, where she trained with renowned vocal coach Rosalie Miller.
Pace was an active member and leader in multiple organizations, including the Martinsville Education Association, Virginia Music Educators Association, and Virginia Choral Directors Association. She served as assistant director of the Virginia Music Camp at Massanetta Springs for over 30 years and was later honored as the first Virginian to conduct the camp’s Women’s Chorus. She frequently guest-directed regional and state choruses.
Combining her high school students with community singers, Pace organized concerts featuring professional vocalists, which led to the formation of the Piedmont Choral Society. Under her direction, the ensemble introduced professional orchestral accompaniment to the area.
In 2003, she was honored by the Piedmont Arts Association as the inaugural recipient of the Clyde Hooker Award, recognizing her significant contributions to the arts. Upon her retirement in 1985, the Virginia General Assembly presented her with a resolution commemorating her four decades of service in music education.
Beyond her musical achievements, Pace co-chaired the Ridgeway Centennial Committee and co-authored the book The Life and Times of Ridgeway alongside her cousin Mary Pace McGee. Together, they played a crucial role in raising funds for the Ridgeway Branch of the Blue Ridge Public Library. Their efforts were recognized by the Exchange Club of Martinsville, which presented them with the “Book of Golden Deeds” award for outstanding community service.
In 2010, Pace received the Copenhaver Contribution to Education Award from Roanoke College. Her legacy continues to be celebrated by former students, including through a 2020 livestream event by TheatreWorks Community Players titled A Night in Time with Ruth Pace.
With the support of caregivers, Pace continues to reside at her family’s historic farm, where she remains a beloved figure in the community.
