Surry County is mourning the loss of Laura Ruffin, who for more than a decade represented the Claremont District on the county’s School Board. 

She was its immediate past chairwoman and was serving as vice chairwoman when she died April 28 at age 77 just over a year into her fourth consecutive four-year term in office.

The Virginia School Boards Association, of which Surry County is a member, announced Ruffin’s death in a recent notice.

“To the Cougar family, the Virginia School Board Association, the Surry County School Board and I would like you to know that it is with deep sadness that we share the news of the passing of Mrs. Laura Ruffin, a long-time and devoted member of the Surry County school division and School Board,” VSBA Executive Director Gina Patterson said in a notice to its member boards.

Ruffin wore many hats throughout her more than 50 years with Surry County Public Schools, including time as an instructional assistant, bus driver, teacher and guidance counselor before retiring in 2009 and joining the School Board in 2012.

“We actually worked together at the same school when she retired,” said Ruffin’s daughter, Rhea, who’s followed in her mother’s footsteps as a special education teacher.

Surry County Public Schools is “in my DNA,” Ruffin had told the Times in an interview when she last ran for reelection in 2023.

Rhea said her mother made a point of attending every school sporting event and was “known for her voice.” Ruffin served as assistant band director for many years and was the original voice to announce “behold the mighty blue and precious gold” when the band and the teams would take the field.

“Everybody loved to hear her say that,” Rhea Ruffin said.

Rhea’s brother, Theodore “Juni” Ruffin Jr., coaches Surry County High School’s girls basketball team. He said he was exposed to his mother’s love for education at an early age when he would sit with her as a child as she completed courses for her master’s degree at Virginia State University. Rhea’s daughter, Jasmine Highsmith-Ruffin, is the third generation to work for SCPS as a career and technical education teacher at Surry County High. 

Juni Ruffin said he’ll also remember how devoted his mother was to his father, the late Theodore Ruffin Sr., who died in 2018. The couple was married for more than 50 years.

Juni also described his mother as a “great woman of God.” She was very active in her church, Mount Nebo Baptist. She was also a praise dancer and ran a nonprofit that would hold gospel programs to benefit people in need.

“She was a great singer, used to sing at a lot of funerals,” Juni said. “She was at everybody’s funeral because she knew everybody.”

It was no different at home with her family.

“What people saw, that’s how she was with us. She loved pretty much everybody,” Rhea said. “We’re grateful that we had as many years with her.”

Ruffin was also an employee of Poole’s Funeral Home, the oldest continually run business in Surry County, founded in 1890 by the late M.B. Poole.

“It is with profound sorrow and a heavy heart, we the management and staff of Pooles Funeral Home sadly announce the transition of one of our very own, Laura P. Ruffin,” the funeral home said on its Facebook page on April 29.

Juni said his mother would keep in touch with former employees of the school system.

“Dr. (Serbrenia) Sims was still in her life,” Juni said, referring to SCPS Superintendent Herbert Monroe’s immediate predecessor.

A celebration of life was held on May 3 at Mount Nebo.

Monroe said the School Board will follow VSBA policy for appointing someone to fill Ruffin’s seat until a special election can be held, which will likely coincide with this year’s general election. That policy and state law each stipulate that the remaining board members have 15 days to petition the county’s Circuit Court for a writ of election and 45 days to vote among themselves on an interim appointee.