06/28/2025
What a year it has been up to this point… 💔 It’s rare to find individuals who truly support you and your dreams in tangible ways that reflect commitment through their most valuable resources, time, and energy. When I introduced WATZS Productions to my Aunt Ruthie she stepped up for Kalisha and me in such an impactful, beautiful, and meaningful way - we lost her today, and we are incredibly grateful for the unwavering belief she had in our media vision and our capacity to achieve it by being fully grounded in our values of integrity, patience, and respect.
For those who took part in Frame of Reference, she was instrumental in managing our transportation for the project. Our Aunt Ruthie was old school, she was accountable, if she said she was going to do something, she did it. Her unwavering support, presence, and commitment to ensuring everyone was picked up and dropped off each day of filming will always hold a special place in our hearts. From the numerous flights she took to support our weekend workshops, we are incredibly thankful—especially for her expressive amazement at how we managed to get it all done. Her involvement in the editing process for Frame of Reference filled her with great joy as she saw firsthand what we accomplished together; it truly was something remarkable. Her faith in us—her belief in our family, ideas, stories—and the time and care we dedicated to both people and projects consistently left her speechless. We’re genuinely grateful that she had the opportunity to experience all of this…
She was filled with excitement regarding our developments and achievements as an independent media organization led by two Black women from Tulsa, OK. Aunt Ruthie often remarked that our entrepreneurial spirit was passed down to us from our great-grandmother, Texana Bennett. Embracing a vision that is bigger than our individual selves and nurturing it with great intention and purpose made her the proudest of all. As our family grieves her loss today, we will honor her memory by demonstrating our commitment and devotion to realizing a divine dream.
Rest in love 🕊️ Aunt Ruthie
Sincerely,
Kachelle & Kalisha