Nationwide — Maretta and Fred Ross, an African American couple from Georgia, met as teenagers and dated briefly before life took them in different directions. Nearly 40 years later, they found each other again online, rebuilt their connection, and eventually got married.
The pair first met at a skating rink in Pelham, Georgia, when they were around 15 years old, according to reports. They attended rival high schools but quickly formed a teenage relationship. They spent time together at church picnics, went on outings, and attended homecoming dances.
After high school, the relationship ended, and they went their separate ways. Maretta later said distance and life changes kept them apart for decades. “I hadn’t seen him anywhere, even when I would return home,” Maretta told People. “I left, went to college, got married. He got married. I never saw him again in the store when visiting home.”
Maretta had been married for 30 years before divorcing. After her divorce, she said she reached a turning point in her life and focused on starting over. She did not expect to marry again and had no plans to revisit her past.
Fred also married, but never forgot Maretta. Decades later, he decided to reconnect and reached out to her through Facebook. The message reopened a connection that had been dormant for almost 40 years.
At first, Maretta hesitated and asked a longtime friend of Fred about his personality before responding. After some thought, she shared her phone number. Fred called about an hour later, and their conversation started easily and continued without pause.
They met in person soon after and quickly rebuilt their bond. Maretta said they spent long hours talking and catching up on their lives. Fred said he had been waiting for the right partner during all those years apart.
“We went our separate ways, but made it back to one another,” Fred said.
Today, Maretta and Fred Ross are married and will celebrate their third wedding anniversary in July. They describe their journey as a second chance at love after decades apart. Maretta also encourages patience, kindness, and openness in relationships, noting that timing can change everything.