Esther Purdy Ruffin

Esther Purdy Ruffin January 1, 1939 – January 17, 2021 Esther Purdy Ruffin, 82 of Wilson passed away Sunday. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, January 23, 2021 at Joyner’s Funeral Home, Wilson. The Rev. Cliff Lewin will officiate. The family will receive friends Saturday immediately following the service at Joyner’s Funeral Home, 4100 Raleigh Road Parkway, Wilson. Esther is survived by her loving husband of sixty years, James Gray Ruffin of the home; daughters, Janet Louise Carey and husband, Keith of Wilson, and Helen Ann McVey and husband, Tim of Wilson; sons, Ernest Lee Ruffin and wife, Carolyn of Lucama and James “Jimmy” Gray Ruffin, Jr. of Lucama; grandchildren, Jimmy Yost, Joshua Driver, Jennifer Wiggins, Spencer Ruffin, Ryan Carey, Ashley Wilson, Marissa McVey and Andrew McVey; great-grandchildren, Zachary Yost, Katie Flannery, Auburn Carey, Isabella Wilson, Aspen Carey, Aaron Wilson, Carter Wiggins and a great-grandchild will have the namesake of Esther as her middle name; sisters, Virginia Baxter of Sarasota, Florida, Marilyn Flanagan of Sarasota, Florida and Priscilla Kosiba of Wilson and her brother, Robert Purdy and wife, Joanne of Wilson. Esther was preceded in death by her daughter, Laura Ruffin. Condolences directed to Joyner’s Funeral Home and Crematory at www.joyners.net.