Nedra Ruffin, daughter of David Ruffin of the Temptations, died May 19 of COVID-19 – Detroit Free Press

Nedra Ruffin(Photo: Provided by Terea Frazier)

This obituary is part of We Will Remember, a series about those weve lost to the coronavirus.

Nedra Ruffin, daughter of the late R&B singer David Ruffin ofthe Temptations, was described asloving, kind, sweet individual with a heart of gold.

Ruffin, 58, died May 19 at BeaumontHospital, Royal Oak as a result ofcomplications from COVID-19.

TheDetroit residentattended Mumford High School in Detroit, and her career included modeling andbartending. She also diddirect care work with hospice patients and taughtballroom dancing and hustle classes.

She loved to dance, said her daughter Terea Frazier.

Nedra Ruffin, left, Kimberly Mone Ruffin Jones and Cheryl Ruffin-Robinson, daughters of David Ruffin and wife Sandra.(Photo: Provided by Gina Ruffin Moore)

Frazier, whowas an infant when David Ruffin died, recalls her mothersharing stories of going to concerts, spending time in the studio with her fatherandriding in his convertibleCorvette.

She did a lot with him, she said.

We were always known as twins coming up, said her sister Cheryl Ruffin, who's close in age to Nedra Ruffin. Im going to miss her loving, giving ways. She gave so much of herself to others. And Im going to miss our get-togethers.

Lamont Robinson, founder and CEO of the National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame and brother-in-law to Ruffin, said Nedra Ruffin was instrumental in getting the renaming of Parkside Street in Detroit to David Ruffin Avenuein June 2019.

A street in Meridian, Mississippi, was also renamed David Ruffin Boulevard in October2019.

Known as NeNe and Special, Ruffin enjoyed traveling and spending time with her grandchildren.

Nedra Ruffin with her children and mother. From left: Terea, mother Sandra Ruffin, Clifford, Nedra and DeAiress.(Photo: Provided by Gina Ruffin Moore)

She was active in assistingNarcotics Anonymous and was proud of being clean from drugs for 28 years, according to Frazier.

Ruffin, who had dealt with variousailments in recent years, began feeling ill after returning home from a recent trip to Las Vegas.

She was having trouble breathing, confused, and fatigued, and was admitted to the hospital the day after Mothers Day.

Soon after that, she was in intensive care and put on a ventilator, according to her sister Cheryl, who said, She never came off.

Ruffin is survived by her mother, Sandra Ruffin; son Clifford Pearson anddaughters, Terea Frazier andDeAiress Frazier;six grandchildren;sisters Cheryl RuffinRobinson (Lamont), Kimberly Mone Ruffin Jones;and a brother, David Ruffin, Jr.

Viewing is1-4 p.m. Thursday atSwanson Funeral Home, 14751 W. McNichols, Detroit.

A homegoingcelebrationstarts at 12:30 p.m. Friday at Oasis of Hope Christian Church, 933 W.Seven Mile,Detroit.

If you have a family member or close friend who has died from COVID-19 and you would like to share their story, please visit our memorial wall and select Share a story.

Brendel Hightower is an assistant editorat the Detroit Free Press.Contact her at bhightower@freepress.com.

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Nedra Ruffin, daughter of David Ruffin of the Temptations, died May 19 of COVID-19 - Detroit Free Press