Joe Ruffin

"For I am now ready to be offered, and the time for my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing." (II Timothy 4: 6-8) Joe Ruffin, Jr. was born June 23, 1953 in Rocky Ford, Georgia to the late Joe Ruffin, Sr. and the late Annie Ruth Jones Ruffin. In his early years, the family moved to Millen, GA., where Joe attended Jenkins County Public Schools. After the death of his mother , his father married Viola P. Ruffin, and later moved the family to Wilmington, Delaware, and resided in the Canby Park area for many years. Joe attended Wilmington Public Schools and was a 1973 graduate of Wilmington High School. After graduation, Joe held various jobs as a steel worker, factory worker, and truck driver. He was employed in waste management for over 15 years with Harvey and Harvey as well as other companies. Later, he worked as a security guard, and finally as a restaurant worker. Joe had a warm and kind disposition. He was a very friendly and gentle man with a great deal of compassion for others. He loved to spend time with his family and loved to laugh and joke with them. He was fondly called "Bubba" by his family members and friends. He was a loving father to his daughter, Ashley from a previous relationship with Carol Huggins. He was a loyal friend to many and a devoted husband to Sharon Harden for the past three years. He attended The House of Refuge with Pastor Earl Robinson, housed in Fraims Boys' Club, where they were married. Joe leaves to cherish his memories mother, Viola Pinkney-Ruffin, sister, Debra D. Ruffin-Sipple; three brothers, Andy, Stanley, and Rickey Ruffin; daughter, Ashley Huggins and grandson, Jakai Williams; son, William (Billy) Westley; niece Dominique Arielle Sipple; nephews, Hayward (Matt) Sipple, II, Stanley R. Ruffin, Jr., Andrew Westley, Akeem and Avery Stewart, three aunts, Alice Shy of Wilmington, Willie Pearl Holmes and Hattie Mae Tarver of Millen, Georgia, two sisters-in-law, Danielle Ruffin and Patricia Smith; stepdaughters, Deborah Huggins and Kita Harden; wife, Sharon Harden; mother-in-law, Cheryl Harden; and a host of other relatives and friends. Read Joe Ruffin, Jr's Obituary and Guestbook on houseofwrightmortuary.com.