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. Online
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