Ollie Mae (Ruffin) Jones

Ollie Mae (Ruffin) was born to Garfield & Ellen Ruffin on April 26, 1933 in Riderwood, Alabama. Ollie accepted Christ at an early age at the Wahalak Baptist Church where she sang in the Choir. Ollie attended Choctaw County Training School in which she graduated in 1953 with her High School Diploma. Ollie moved to Michigan right after high school in 1953 where she started Cosmetology School and became a well-known hairdresser while working other various Jobs. Ollie later enrolled in Wayne County Community College in which she received her Associates in Business Administration while serving on Wayne County Board of Commissioners and was also employed with the State of Michigan as a Social Worker in 1967 helping many families throughout Detroit and Downriver area.

Ollie became a member of New Mount Hermon Missionary Baptist Church in 1956 where she was a faithful member and mother of the church where she loved to sing in the choir and work with the youth in the earlier years. Ollie also sung on many recordings with the John Eberhardt Community Choir and a female gospel group known as Sue and the Starletts.

Ollie Mae started a new position with the State of Michigan in 1970 with the (Michigan Employment Security Commission) MESC in which she worked until 1997 where she retired after 30 years of helping so many people find employment. In 1983 Ollie was one of the first Black Female entrepreneur/Business Owner of Three-Party Stores and One Restaurant where she worked after her retirement until 2000 when she decided sell the business and move back home to Riderwood, Al.

Ollie Mae was the youngest of twelve children, all eleven siblings preceded her in death, and also her dearest friend who was close as a sister (Anne Muriel Thomas) who also preceded her in death. Ollie Mae had six children Edna Earl and Eric Dewayne who preceded her in death, She leaves to cherish her memories 4 children Johnnie Mae (Jimmie), Darryl ( Ramona), Murleane, and Donald (Eunice), and sixteen grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren a host of nieces, nephews and cousins. She will be truly missed by all whom life she touched.