Donnell was born on Tuesday, February 5, 1985, in Washington, D.C. to Brenda Annette Ruffin and the late Dwight Dennis Ruffin Sr. Donnell attended Archbishop Carroll and Northwestern High School. Early on he participated in sports where he played on Magruder Park Football Team. But his main talent was playing basketball. Donnell was a kind and compassionate person with a good heart. He especially loved children and on Halloween he spared no expense to make sure he had plenty of candy to give to the numerous kids that came to the house.
Throughout his career, Donnell was a loyal, proud, and dedicated employee. He always kept a job as a Service Specialist with numerous hotel industries in which his last employment was at Martin’s Crosswinds.
Donnell is survived by his loving mother, Brenda A. Ruffin, his brother, Dwight D. Ruffin Jr., sister-in-law, Cheryll Hope Ruffin, niece, Cheree Danae Ruffin. And two nephews, Dwight D. Ruffin III and Donovan Ruffin. His surviving relatives include his grandmother, Kay Francis Hamilton, a host of aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.
