I'm family genealogist and collaborating with others who are connected to the ruffin family.   Surnames in my research:  Harris, Brown, Collins, Randolph, Roberts, Fitch, Jones, Wallace, Wilson   Have determine the exact genealogical link to David ruffin, the singer with the Temptations.   There's a online family tree which requires email invite to view...if anyone would like to do so please provide information concerning relationship to Velma Brookns-Ruffin so that I may ensure proper placement and send invite.  Looking forward to collaborate further with you and celebrate family.    

Grandma Velma made the woman of God that I am today. I am a sucessful business owner with a loving husband who loves the Lord with all of his heart. i learned how to be the prayer warrior i am today by atching Grandmas life. i miss you Bird but i know that God has given you a ron of diamonds for all of your love and kindness. Say hi to Apostle for me

GRANDMA VELMA INSPIRED ALL OF US TO LIVE RIGHT AND TO LEAVE A LEGACY THAT IS MEANINGFUL. I WANT EACH OF US TO REFLECT ON THE THINGS THAT GRANDMOTHER WORKED AND PRAYED SO HARD FOR US TO BE THE BEST THAT WE CAN BE. FAMILY IF YOU ARE STRUGGLING WITH ALCOHOL, DRUGS, DEPRESSION AND ANYTHING THAT MAY HINDER YOU FROM SUCEEDING IN LIFE. THEN LET US COME TOGETHER AND PRAY. GRANDMA BIRD WAS A PRAYING LADY AND YOU ALL KNOW THAT SHE RAISED US IN CHURCH. NOW THAT WE ARE OLDER WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT ETERNITY WHAT DO YOU CHOOSE LIFE OR DEATH.

Grandma(Bird), She taught us all the importance of family and church. She instilled in us how to value each other. Yall, remember how bird use to encourage all of us and how no matter what on Sunday you was going to church on Sunday. Grandma made sure that we spent quality time around the dinner table. Yall know we did our share of eating. I will always remember Grandmas smile and I will always remember her caring talks. The greatest woman that ever lived my Grandma Velma Ruffin.

Strength! Wisdom! Inspirational! Straight talking! Open heart! Loving! I could go on and on with my impression of Grandma Velma. We will miss you Grandma Velma. LaChelle, Julian, and Aaron

I'm really going to miss Grandma Velma. She has always been there for me. When I was a child she took me Squig and Moody to the library in Butler for storytime and to check out books. I've loved reading all my life and I appreciate that she gave me the opportunity to develop that love. Everytime I looked up she was there smiling and telling me how proud she was of me. When I talked to her last she told me that it was good to go to school and to keep on going. She said that someone once asked her when she would stop going to school and she told them that she would probably never stop learning. She told me to never stop learning and to never be ashamed of doing my best. I am grateful to Aunt Barbara for calling me on my Birthday this year and letting me talk to my grandmother one last time.

She is a fragile woman with the strength of a thousand men. Though she needs a cane to walk at times, there is nothing she cannot tackle. Her name is Velma Ruffin, and she has bared twelve children, but she is a mother to countless people throughout her lifetime. She has been a constant influence on my life as well as her many children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and even great great grandchildren. Whenever we sit together and have a conversation, I listen to her wisdom and I can feel my own knowledge begin to increase. Her words are soft but true, and I take advantage of that wisdom and abide by it. I don’t think of her age as how old she is, but the number of years she has blessed hearts each and everyday. Through out my life I remember going to my grandmother’s house after school and I knew she would be waiting for me to water her garden or help set up one of her quilts. Her quilts are one of the many things that are so special about her. There is something about a grandma’s quilt. With that one covering you are never cold because her warmth is threaded and stitched into every little piece of fabric. Your eyes get heavy and you sleep like it’s your last chance to experience that mysterious dreamland. Even today at the age of ninety she still influences me and every time I see her she gives me just a little more wisdom because I know her well of knowledge will never run dry.

This web site is very beautiful and I love it. Thank you for putting it together. How can we help to make it even better?

I'm sure all of you know how fortunate you are to be related to a woman who had a heart big enough to love you and so many others who happened into her life. I can think of no better tribute to Velma's life than the number of people that she loved and who loved her who were once married to her children. She wasn't the stereotypical mother-in-law and certainly not the former mother-in-law. Probably my greatest challenge in dealing with Velma was getting through her phone line on Mother's Day. Although I'll miss her "Hello, my love," I'll always be grateful for the times I heard it.

For as long as I can remember Grandma Velma has been the center of the family. She was our rock that we could always be guaranteed an honest point of view. To me she was and still is a source of encouragement and she always was a motivator when times seemed too difficult. I sought her approval sometimes just so I could feel assurance that I was not going the wrong way. Strength, compassion, stern, faithful, loving, GG (Great-Grandma). That's who she is to me. Love you GG.