Maretta and Fred Ross got a second chance at their romance as adults
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/couples961-06122026-9bc597032eed4db2a3a663f0b932a76b.jpg "A man and a woman standing together with their arms around each other")
Credit: getty
NEED TO KNOW
- Maretta Ross and Fred Ross reconnected nearly 40 years after losing touch when Fred reached out on Facebook
- Maretta was hesitant to reconnect but sought advice from a mutual friend before giving Fred her number
- “Never give up on love,” said Fred, with Maretta later adding, “Good things come to those who wait”
Four decades after two teenagers shared a homecoming dance, they reconnected as adults and found a second chance at love.
Maretta Ross and Fred Ross were teenagers who attended rival South Georgia high schools, according to WALB.
"We met at the skating rink in Pelham, Ga. when we were like 15 years old," Maretta recalled to the outlet after sharing photos of them together from that time period on Instagram.
Credit: getty
The two dated briefly, "went to some church picnics" and danced at homecoming together, but they ultimately broke up — going their separate ways for years.
"I hadn't seen him anywhere, even when I would return home," she said. "I left, went to college, got married. He got married. I never saw him again in the store when visiting home."
Maretta was married for 30 years. After her divorce, she was at a crossroads and confused about the direction of her life.
“I had been married my whole adult life,” she said, admitting she didn't plan to get married again after that.
However, Fred never forgot his high school love. Almost 40 years after the pair lost touch, he decided to reach out to her through Facebook.
"He had been divorced a lot longer than me," Maretta explained. "I had been divorced for like six years, so it was still kind of new."
Because of this, she was hesitant. She contacted his longtime friend, Todd West, and asked what she should expect from Fred's personality as an adult.
“I reached out to Todd, and I said, ‘Should I give him my number? What is he like now? I don't know him anymore,' ” she said.
Maretta decided to give Fred her number, and he called around an hour later. From there, the two “never really stopped” talking.
The two had an "easy" connection, and Fred had been “waiting for the right one" before connecting with Maretta. After the call, they met in person and even strengthened their strong bond.
Credit: getty
“It was wonderful,” she said. “We just talked and talked and talked and talked just really got to know one another once again.”
Now, in July, Maretta and Fred will celebrate their third wedding anniversary. “Never give up on love,” she said. “Because you just never know.”
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"We went our separate ways, but made it back to one another," Fred said.
As for what advice Maretta would give for others approaching love, she suggests that others be patient and kind.
“Allowing someone to help lead,” she said. “I was so strong-minded… I've had to humble myself a little bit and be a partner.”
“Good things come to those who wait,” Maretta added. “Be kind to everyone because you don't know when you'll see them again."