Ruth Marshall

&nbsp Ruth Marshall (nee Potter) is a fictional character on the soap opera Generations.

She was portrayed by Joan Pringle, who was nominated for a Soap Award Digest Award for "Best Supporting Actress".

Background
Ruth Potter was born to Vivian Potter in the south, presumably Mississippi.

When Vivian was hired by Rebecca Whitmore and they were brought to Chicago to work for them. While growing up at the Whitmore Estate, Ruth became full of resentment about living in the estate and being the only black in all-white school.

She was also in love with Peter Whitmore.

One night she forbade her mother's wishes and went to sing at Peter's nightclub, "The Music Box" and later that night, the two had a one-night stand. The one-night stand led to Ruth becoming pregnant with Chantal, and she was sent to live with Vivian's sister's down south, where she met Henry Marshall, who agreed to be Chantal's father. The two later relocated to Chicago, Illinois, where they had two more children: Jacquelyn and Adam.

GEN
Ruth channeled her resentment and ambition into helping her husband, Henry, become successful and they now owned and operated five successful ice cream parlors.

Ruth remembered how she hated being referred to as the "maid's daughter" when she was growing up in the Whitmore mansion while her mother, Vivian, was the Whitmore housekeeper.

Ruth urged Chantal to make up with her boyfriend, Elliot.

When Ruth found out that Adam was moving in with Sam Whitmore and Monique McCallum, she became concerned, especially after Chantal suggested Adam may have feelings for Sam. Ruth was upset that Henry wouldn't force Adam to move out of Sam and Monique's apartment.

Ruth was puzzled when Doreen Jackson asked her to help resurrect the failed business deal between Henry and Martin Jackson. Ruth told Henry that her dislike for Laura McCallum doesn't stem from the fact that Laura is white.

Ruth turned down a seat on the prestigious Mayor's Arts Council but later decided to join. Ruth found Doreen and got her to a hospital after Doreen passed out after combining pills and booze.

Ruth and Henry were upset when Adam was arrested for drug possession. Doreen finally admitted to Ruth that she is pregnant, but didn't tell Ruth that the baby is Adam's.

Rob Donnelly and Ruth are both trying to buy the old Whitmore estate. Henry was upset when Ruth told him that she bought the old Whitmore estate, which she bought after selling her Marshall's Ice Cream stock to Martin Jackson. Henry was stunned to learn that Ruth sold her stock in order to buy the estate. To make things right with Henry, Ruth attempted to buy her stock back from Martin.

When Ruth brought Laura McCallum to the house to see the renovation under way and on the living room wall they found the words "Niggers Get Lost" spray painted in ugly letters. Devastated, she tried to sweep the incident under the rug but Vivian argued with Ruth that owning that house wouldn't make her any whiter. Ruth later received a mysterious phone call warning her not to move into the Whitemore Estate, as she would "never live there".

Martin sold Ruth worthless stock when she paid him for the return of the stock she sold him to get the money to buy the Whitmore mansion. The real Marshall's Ice Cream stocks are in an unwitting Doreen's name. Ruth and her family moved into the Whitmore mansion despite the objection from some of their new neighbours. After one of the movers cased the Marshall mansion, a snake later slithered toward an unsuspecting Ruth but Ruth and her family were determined not to be driven out of their home even though they are being harassed by bigots.

Lewis, the mover who released the snake in the Marshall home, planted a bomb in a floral arrangement before Ruth's housewarming party got under way. When Henry confronted Lewis about the snake, he told the party-goers about the bomb. Charles Mullin grabbed the bomb from the floral arrangement. Everyone praised Charles, who saved the lives of Ruth's party guests by throwing Lewis' bomb out a window just before it exploded.

Doreen arranged an interview with the Chicago Tribune about the racist acts against the Marshall family. While Ruth is furious over Doreen's betrayal of her trust, Doreen felt that Ruth has an obligation to fight racism wherever it is even if it exists in her own backyard.

Helen Mullin thank Ruth for letting her stay with the Marshall family after she finally had the courage to leave her husband, Charles, who abused her. Ruth and Doreen later comforted Helen, who botched a suicide attempt, after Doreen revealed that Charles had an affair with a black woman, Rita Barton.

Ruth thought that Maya Reubens wasn't the right girl for Adam.

Ruth confronted Doreen after she saw Daniel Reubens and Doreen kissing, but Doreen down played her involvement with Daniel.

Ruth began to worry about Henry's health.

Chantal insisted to Ruth that despite the fact Eric Royal helped her, she is still pushing for him to receive the maximum sentence for his negligent homicide conviction.

Doreen warned Ruth and Henry that Martin was planning to sell his company stock to Todd Kelsey and then leave the country. Doreen, Henry, Ruth, Adam and Maya all worked against Martin, who fumed when he learned his deal with Todd Kelsey was null and void because Doreen rescinded the power of attorney she had given Martin.

Henry and Ruth later discovered from Martin that Adam was Danielle's father.

Peter Whitmore, Rebecca's estranged husband, returned to Chicago. Peter told Ruth he left town years ago after testifying against a gangster. She told Peter that Sam hates him because he deserted her when she was a child. Ruth sang along with Peter, who has a job playing piano at the Winston Hotel Bar. Ruth agreed to help Peter when he said he decided to stay in town and try to get through to Sam. She was secretly happy to learn from Peter that he is going to stay and try to work things out with Sam. Ruth admitted she misses seeing her granddaughter, Danielle, and is worried Doreen won't let her see the child because of their rift.

Doreen and Ruth reconciled after Ruth saved Danielle from choking to death.

At Ruth's urging, Peter accepted Henry’s offer to let him hide out in the Marshall mansion.

After clearing his name, Peter asked Ruth to be headliner for the reopening of his nightclub The Music Box. Peter, who had been reminiscing about the night he and Ruth slept together, told Ruth he bought back the Music Box nightclub. Ruth was happy for Peter, but became upset when she learned Doreen will be working at the club.Doreen conned Vivian into telling her about Ruth and Peter's romantic past. Peter insisted to Rebecca that he and Ruth are just friends.

Henry was miffed when Ruth sang at the opening of Peter's nightclub, but they later patched things up.