Ruth M. Easterling

Ruth Elizabeth Moss Easterling (December 26, 1910 – November 1, 2006) was a Democratic member of the North Carolina House of Representatives for thirteen terms. She was born December 26, 1910, in Blacksburg, South Carolina. She was an alumnus of Limestone College and Appalachian State University.

After serving on the city council of Charlotte, Easterling was first elected to the legislature in 1976, at age 65. Before retirement she was the co-chairwoman of the appropriations committee. She retired in 2002 at age 92, at which time she was the longest serving female legislator from North Carolina. She represented a district in Mecklenburg County. At the end of her time, she was ranked the seventh in effectiveness among North Carolina legislators by the North Carolina Center for Public Policy Research.

Easterling died on November 1, 2006, at age 95, of congestive heart failure.