Mr. James “Jimmie” Roland Ruff, Jr.
(April 28, 1940 - February 11, 2024)
Viewing Location: Leevy's Funeral Home, 1831 Taylor Street, Columbia, South Carolina
Viewing Date & Time: Friday, February 16, 2024 / 2:00 P.M. - 6:00 P.M.
Funeral Location: First Calvary Baptist Church, 1401 Pine Street, Columbia, South Carolina
Funeral Date & Time: Saturday, February 17, 2024 / 11:00 A.M.
Interment Location: Greenlawn Memorial Park, 7100 Garners Ferry Road, Columbia, South Carolina
I am so sorry to hear about the passing of Mr. Ruff. His mom was my First Grade teacher. I loved her and him so! He did many photos of me in elementary school to include when I was Little Miss May Day in 1965 at Lakeview. Mr. Ruff was a great family friend, wonderful teacher an an Amazing Administrator in Lexington School District #2.
My sincere condolences to you, Doris, and your children. Prayers are being lifted up during your time of sorrow. Peace and blessings to be with you always and forever. Much love, Tina
To the Ruff family. Gone from our touch but never our hearts. I am thinking of the family and sending my condolences for your loss.
Jimmy was an amazing example of showing love to family, friends, kindness, respect, and being a pillar in the community. He gave many of us our first jobs working at Drew Park Swimming Pool and supported countless church activities at First Calvary Baptist Church. He always had a smile or a kind word for you. Doris, J.R., April and the entire Mack-Ruff family; thank you for sharing him with us. Even in his latter days you gave us the opportunity to visit with him in person or via electronic means. The Lord has given us all a beautiful memory to cherish! May He grant you comfort and care during this difficult time! We are keeping you lifted up in prayer!
To Doris and family, you know that to me, Jimmy was a true brother and friend in Christ and fraternity. He will be truly missed by me and the children. He was a strong man who treated them like they were his children. May God continue to bless you for the care you gave him.
To Auntie Doris, my cousin’s Jr & April,
My prayers are going out to you all your families!! He will be missed and is loved deeply!!
Cousin you will be missed. Lillie and I send our sincere condolences to Doris, JR & April will prayers. Much Love.
May your faith give you the strength to get through this hard situation. To lose someone so important and special as Jimmie is unimaginable but his memories will live forever in your hearts.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you all..
Mike & Brenda Myers
Doris, April and JR My condolences to you and your family. Jimmie will truly be missed. May God comfort and strengthen you.
Blessings and Prayers to Doris, April and JR
Jimmy’s warm and gentle spirit will be greatly missed.
Dear Doris, JR and April,
Please accept our sincere sympathies at this time. Know that you
are in our prayers and God does not put more on us than we can
bear. We wish we could take away the pains, but only God and
time can do that.
Love Always, Teshine and Walter
May my condolences bring you comfort and may my prayers ease the pain of this loss.
My condolences to you and your family. May the Spirit of God comfort and give you peace on this day and days to come. Love you. Big hug and kiss to Doris. 🙏🙏
My prayers and thoughts got out to all the Ruff family.
Condolences to the family
Doris, JR, and April my sincere condolences go out to you all. There are a plethora of memories, laughter, and love that come with Jimmie throughout the years. His warm nature and the pictures!!!! Jimmie will never be forgotten but always remembered. Sending over love and hugs.
On behalf of the Swygert family we send our Deepest Condolences and Sympathy to the Ruff family. Your sons were some very good athletes, They played sports with me and my brothers back in the late seventies, Van Lee, Frankie and Andrew Swygert. Rest In Peace Mr. Ruff. Andrew & Marilyn Swygert & Family.
Drois JR ,April and the rest of. Your family God gave your love one rest and peace. You will see him again and yall will be together forever. You have your on personal angel watching over you all know i love you all and so does God. I pray that he will comfort you all and give you peace during this time.abd know you will be together again. In Jesus name.
Jimmie is, was, and shall always be my first mentor when he sat me down in front of his TRS-80 computer at the age of 12, he introduced me to my future, my calling, and the path I still walk upon happily this very day. God used Jimmie in a mighty way in my life that day and every blessing in my life flows from that one moment. Rest in peace, my dearest cousin and beloved teacher, you will be missed, but never forgotten
Mrs. Ruff, April, JR and family, I am so sorry for the loss of your loved one. Mr. Ruff was a such a kind gentleman who reminded me so much of my father. Praying that God will give you strength. May the fond memories you shared, your faith, and knowing others share in your grief bring you comfort.
You are only separated temporarily and will be together again forever. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his mercy he has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead (1Peter 1:3). ” Hold onto God’s hand and he will carry you through. Love ❤️ you.
To: Doris, J.R. & April
I will always remember Jimmie’s big smile, calm and gentle manner. He has now entered into his heavenly home where there is a peaceful smile. Our prayers continue that you will find peace and comfort in the days ahead
Life long friend,a decent good man with no enemies.
Mrs. Ruff, J.R. and April, I am so blessed to have known Mr. Ruff. In your time of mourning keep all your wonderful memories in the forefront,I know that I am. Love you all!
Praying that the presence in Heaven and the promise of eternal life will bring you comfort in your loss. God will take of you all.
Our condolences and prayers to the family and relatives.
Condolences to the Ruff Family, May God give you all Peace and Strength
To Doris and family, I know that you all will miss Jimmy a lot. I know that you have done all that you could do for Jimmy. May Jimmy rest in peace as you get your rest.
My condolences to Doris and family🙏
I was deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Brother James “Jimmie” Roland Ruff, Jr. Please accept my heartfelt condolences during this difficult time. His presence will be sorely missed by all who had the privilege of knowing him.
As you navigate this time of sorrow, may you find solace in the cherished memories you shared with him and the love and support of family and friends. My thoughts and prayers are with you, Doris, and your entire family. May God bless you with the strength you need to endure this loss, and may His peace comfort you in the days ahead.
Mrs.Doris I am sorry to hear of your loss. Sending my sympathy and prayers to you all.
Hello Doris and Family, Jimmy was among the first of many involved in African American swimming in Columbia, SC. I consider it a privilege to be part of the African-American swimming community, learning from Giants like Jimmy Ruff. His legacy of teaching and training so many young children’s aquatic skills continues to touch the lives of so many children today. Today, his work is done but also continues. God has decided it is time to bring him home to rest. May the peace of God touch your hearts and bring you peace of understanding!
To Doris and the family. Mr. James Ruff’s spirit is now experiencing the privilege of living in the presence of the Lord and he will live on in your hearts and memories. May the Lord comfort you with His peace and love. In Jesus Name.
Dearest Doris & your two very fine adult children, JR & April:
Jimmie, your dear husband and Father, has peacefully slippped the surly bonds of earth to ascend to his heavenly reward,
As I refect, I know that so many
across the Columbia and West Columbia/Lake View communities are thinking of you & will remember and benefit from Jimmie having lived & served during the period of time that he did.
His ascention from living here to his eternal life with his Savior is gain. But while he toiled on this earthly journey, his impact was felt by the many lives he touched as an educator & administrator.
But for those of us who knew Jimmie from all of the years he spent his summers at Drew Park Swimming Pool, (thanks to Mr. T. S. Martin for knowing of the “jewel” he had in a James R. Ruff, Jr), we benefitted immensely from being under his tutelage. I not only had the opportunity to work at Drew Pool early on as a basket room attendant but went through WSI training to become a lifeguard, & that training has served me well even to this day.
I have Jemmie Roof to thank for my many positive experiences, at Drew Park, as his exceptional swimming & diving skills were always on display as he propelled himself through the blue waters of Drew Park Pool like a “shark”, our swimming team’s mascot. He was dynamic in the water & a wonderful role model for those of us who were up and coming!
He was just an all around good guy, who was so positive for the community of which he lived and worked even at Ruff’s Drugstore, across from my church on Gervais St.
As he transitions this earthly domain, Ecclesiastes 12:7 informs us, “Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was, and the spirit shall return to God who gave it”..
James R. “Jemmie” Ruff, Jr. is gone, but never forgotten!
With tender loving care, I share with you Doris and the children, my heart felt thoughts of your loved one, J. R. Ruff, Jr.
Doris, April and J R my sincere condolences to you and all the family. Jimmy will surely be missed. We all love that smile. You are in my prayers. Look to the heavens . God will carry you through this. Love you all
Our heartfelt prayers and condolences go out to Doris, April, JR and the entire Ruff and Mack Families. Jimmie was a rule trooper. He weathered more lives than a cat!!! He had to have had more than 20 (smile). He was a true gentleman in every sense of the word and truly loved his family. He will be sorely missed. May GOD provide you with the necessary strength needed during this trying time of benevolence. Jimmie took his best life-guarding swim on earth and now he is taking his heavenly swim with GOD!!! GOD bless all of you! 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾
❤️❤️❤️
I will always remember the amazing “Jimmie Ruff” famous swimming “fish” of Drew Park swimming Pool. He was a talented award winning swimmer, lifeguard, and a manager of Drew Park Swimming Pool. Jimmie’s humor touched so many lives in the very best way. I’m so grateful I got the chance to know him as both a wonderful friend and colleague. During this time of profound grief, PLEASE know that you are not a lone. Jimmie legacy of love and kindness will forever be remember. I offer my deepest condolences to his family. Jimmie memory will continue to shine brightly.
I am so sorry to hear about your loss. I met Jimmie at Drew Park when I was a young kid learning how to swim. The next time we met was 50 years later at a mutural friend’s Birthday Party God Bless you old friend and your family.
Doris, We are so sorry to hear about your loss. My God bless you with the strength you need.
Doris, so sorry to hear of Jimmy’s transition. My prayers are with you and family. Hold on to your memories as they will bring you strength and comfort.
Doris and Faye, and the Family: Our sincere condolences! Jimmy was my favorate life guard at Drew Park Pool. RIP My Brother!
Jerome & Pat Noble
To Doris and family – Thinking of you with sympathy. May precious memories bring you strength and comfort.