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Rayfield Ruffin, affectionately known as “Ray” was born March 23, 1952 to the late Rudolph Ruffin and Frances Smith. On March 14,1977, he was joined in holy matrimony to Frances Knight and transitioned from his earthly home to his eternal home with his beloved wife on December 31, 2025. Ray graduated from East End High School in 1970. In 1973 he joined the United States Army. Ray was a sergeant during his time in the army. Joining the military came with much sacrifice as well as many rewards. Ray, his wife and children had the opportunity to do a lot of traveling from Ft. Hood, Texas to Ft. Lewis, Washington to Germany to Fort Dix, New Jersey to Ft. Benning, Georgia. Rayfield was Honorably discharged from the Army in1987. Ray worked in transportation driving long distance trucks after leaving the military. When moving back to Martin County he became a mechanic at Perdue and later the head mechanic at Collins and Aikman. He left Collins and Aikman in 2007. Later in life he went back to driving dump trucks and 18 wheelers for various companies. Ray furthered his education by obtaining his Associate Degree in Electrician in 2010 from Pitt Community College. Rayfield started his own lawn care service called Ruffin’s Grass and of course his wife worked right by his side. Ray was a hardworking man, he couldn’t stop working because his wife always wanted “stuff”, he made sure he got everything her heart desired. Ray was the jack of all trades, if he didn’t know how to do it he would find someone that did. Ray loved working on his lawn mowers, cars and things around the house. In his leisure time he loved playing cookie jam on his phone, shooting pool, fishing and most of all grilling. Ray was preceded in death by his parents, Rudolph Ruffin and Frances Smith; grandchildren, Zy’Torious Ruffin, Tiair Wooten and great grandchildren, Karter Rosenboro, A’Raeya Boyd, Jeanniy Wooten; brother, Adolph Ruffin. Ray leaves to cherish her memory her five daughters, Trivia Pierce (Micheal), Tomecker Jones (Bobby), Duchess Chance (Tyrone), Jawanda Ruffin (Douglas), Sha’Inga Cherry (Walter); one son, Edon Rodgers (Adrienne); his sister, Joy Smith of Greenville, NC; brother, Johnny Smith of New York; four sisters- in- law, Teresa Knight of Robersonville, NC, Helen Guy (Don) of Jacksonville, NC, Thelia Brown (Don) and Ida Rollins of New Jersey; five brothers in law, Future Knight of Greenville, NC, Phillip Knight (Cynitha)and Gerald Knight of Robersonville, NC, Bobby Knight (Priscilla) and Earnest Rollins of New Jersey; a special aunt, Jean Morning; twenty-nine grandchildren, Martinez, Carnesia, Jacoby, Nijewel, Jaidyen, Jhayna, DeNautica, Ne’Adiquade, Niasia, Nehemiah, Neshyah, London, Bobby III, Du’Zuan, Aalyiah, Imani, Ta’Essence, I’Zayzuwon, Mi-Kyi, Ta-Zion, Infinity (Arshaun), Gyan, Jazmine, Isaiah, Allanah, Walter Jr., Ta’Lyiah and Dy’Terrion; twenty-one great grandchildren, Khalijah, Jacint, Gionni, Zuri, Nylah, Amiyah, Kolton, Khloe, Khyla, Don’Tayvion, Jamaria, Aubrey, Yashlynn, Akari, Aiden, Massiah, Ta’Zion, Braylen, Nolan, Elania and Aveonna; a host of other relatives and friends.

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Mr. Rayfield Ruffin

March 23, 1952 - December 31, 2025