Rev. Jerry Lee Ruffin was born to Hayward Shuemake and Alice Ruffin Shy on April 4, 1941 in Jenkins County (Millen) Georgia. He was the eldest of four children. Jerry was an outgoing and creative young man and didn’t mind venturing out trying new things. Jerry received his primary and secondary education from the Jenkins County, Georgia public school system. After secondary school Jerry’s family relocated north and resided in Wilmington, Delaware in 1957. It was at the time Jerry couldn’t finish school but had to find work and began working construction and various jobs to help his mother with the family. Later on he landed a job with General Motors Corporation for 25 years until he retired.
Jerry loved music and singing he also gravitated to all different kinds of music with that he started his own Disc Jockey business. He was fascinated with his musical equipment, he would take great care of his records, and 8-track, tapes to make sure they would play properly at all times. Jerry would DJ all over the east coast meeting new people it was then he joined the Diamond State Van Club INC.
Traveling afforded Jerry did so many things to name one fine dining he LOVED to EAT! It was Jerry’s spiritual foundation and love for gospel music drew him to the sound of Quartet he became one of the Original members of Jay Caldwell and the Gospel Ambassadors of Wilmington, Delaware. In 1990 he excepted the call from the Lord to minister Gods word and started his Biblical Education at Enon Bible College in Wilmington Delaware and Graduated in 1992.
In 1993 Jerry met Doris Gilbert at the National Baptist Convention it was at that time they began to date later on Jerry relocated to Orlando, Florida and they became husband and wife July 16, 1994 in Orlando, Florida.
July 24, 2013 he departed this life as a loving husband, father, son, brother, uncle, grandfather, cousin and friend.
His memories will be remembered by his wife, Doris Gilbert-Ruffin, his 4 children two sons, Jerry (Twila) McManus Sr. of Wilmington, Delaware and Gerald A. Ruffin (Pat) of Wilmington, Delaware two daughters, Lisa Ann Collins of Wilmington, Delaware and Serena Ruffin Williams of Atlanta, Georgia; step father of two, Theresa Luckey and Dwayne Gilbert; mother, Alice Ruffin-Shy of Wilmington, Delaware; brothers, Samuel Shuemake (Betty) of California, Freddie Shuemake (Dorothy) of Ohio, Michael Shuemake-deceased; sisters, Blanch White of Wilmington, Delaware, Bernice Tolbert (Ronald) Cincinnati, Dorothy Cobb Columbus, Ohio, Diane Jordan (Ronald) Cincinnati, Ohio; one living aunt Hattie Mae Tolver of Millen, Georgia; special niece and nephew, Tonya Robinson (Marvin) James D. White (Rosa); 18 grandchildren; 25 great grandchildren and a host of cousins, church family, and friends. Jerry's presence will truly be missed His memory will live on.
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