CLEMMONS
- Mr. Benjamin Sylvester Ruffin departed this
life on Thursday, Dec. 7, 2006. He was born
Dec. 11, 1941, in Durham, the son of Catherine
and Benjamin S. Ruffin. Ben completed his secondary
education on the Durham City Schools, graduating
from Hillside High School in 1960. He continued
his pursuit of education at North Carolina Central
University, completing a Bachelor of Science
degree in 1964. He later earned a Master of
Social Work (MSW) degree from the University
of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Ben has been
hailed as an "educator, civic leader and
humanitarian." At the time of his death,
Ben served as president and chief executive
officer of his company, The Ruffin Group, which
he organized Oct. 4, 1999. He had one executive
assistant, Essie C. McCullough, in the company
that specialized in government relations, public
affairs and community relations. Ben received
many awards and honors during his brilliant
career of extraordinary achievements. Among
them are eight honorary degrees from colleges
and universities; the 1991 NAACP Kelly Miller
Alexander Humanitarian Award; the North Carolina
Kappa Man of the Year Award; Distinguished Alumni
Awards from the University of North Carolina
School of Social Work; the North Carolina Association
of Black County Officials Frederick Douglass
Leadership Award; and the National Urban League's
Donald H. McGannan Citation. Ben was a "life"
and "golden heritage" member of the
NAACP, a Prince Hall Mason and former polemarch
of the Winston-Salem Chapter of Kappa Alpha
Psi Fraternity, Inc. In addition to his many
accomplishments, Ben was an active member of
Emmanuel Baptist Church, serving as a Sunday
school teacher and usher. He was an avid golfer
and jogger. He leaves to cherish his memory,
his wife of 31 1/2 years, Avon; two daughters,
April Ruffin-Adams (Fred) and Benita. In addition
to his wife and children, he is survived by
a brother, Fred (Patricia Ann) Ruffin; and three
sisters, Celestine McIver, Carolyn Blount and
Cheryl Smith, all of Durham; in-laws, Carolyn
(George) Napoleon, of Amityville, N.Y., and
Lillian (Charlie) Morgan, Thomas Long Jr., Mary
Lowe (Greg), George Long and Ruth Long, all
of Salisbury; and a host of nieces, nephews
and very special friends. Funeral services will
be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 12 from Emmanuel
Baptist Church, 1075 Shalimar Drive, with the
Rev. Dr. John Mendez officiating. Interment
will follow in Evergreen Cemetery. The family
will receive friends from 7 to 9 p.m. today,
Dec. 11 at Emmanuel Baptist Church. In lieu
of flowers, the family request that memorials
be made to the Benjamin S. Ruffin Scholarship
Fund, NCCU Foundation, P.O. Box 25111, Durham,
NC 27707. On memo line put Benjamin S. Ruffin
Scholarship.
