Glenn B. Ruffin

Glenn was born in Jasper County, MS on January 3, 1926. He was the third child of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph B. Ruffin. He graduated from George S. Gardiner High School in Laurel, MS in May of 1944. He was an outstanding athlete in football, basketball and track. He played on the State Championship basketball team in 1943. He was selected by a vote of the students and faculty at George S. Gardiner High School as winner of the Lauren Rogers Award in 1944. Upon graduation from high school, he entered the U.S. Navy where he served two years during World War II on an LST 865. His ship was active in the battle for Okinawa and the occupation of Japan. Following discharge from the Navy, he entered Mississippi State University, where he received his pre-medical degree. He was elected to membership in honorary academic organizations as well as Kappa Sigma social fraternity. He attended Tulane University Medical School and graduated in May of 1952. At Tulane, he was elected President of his freshman class and Medical School Student Body President his senior year. He was a member of Phi Chi Medical School Social Fraternity, in addition to many other honors. In 1952, he was elected as a member of Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities. He served his internship at Charity Hospital in New Orleans. He then returned to Laurel, MS and joined the Boone Clinic in the practice of general medicine and surgery. In 1956, he built the Medical Arts Building of Laurel that was located across the street from the South Mississippi Regional Medical Center. This building has now been expanded into the Jefferson Medical Center of Laurel. He practiced general medicine there in association with Dr. Herbert Street and Dr. Charles Guice. In 1966, Dr. Ruffin returned to New Orleans to specialize in psychiatry at Tulane Medical School. After completing his residency in psychiatry, he practiced general psychiatry in New Orleans from 1969 to 2001. During this time he was elected President of both medical staffs of Depaul Hospital and Coliseum Medical Center. He served as Professor of Psychiatry on the part time clinical faculty of both Tulane and LSU Medical Schools. He served as Clinical Director of the Intensive Psychiatry Unit at Coliseum Medical Center, and later served as Clinical Director of the first dual psychiatric-chemical dependency unit in New Orleans at Coliseum Medical Center. He also served as Medical Director of Coliseum Medical Center for five years. Dr. Ruffin achieved many honors in medical organizations and community activities while in New Orleans. Some of these are: President of the Louisiana State Psychiatric Association, President of the New Orleans Psychiatric Association, President of the New Orleans chapter of the American Clinical Society of Hypnosis, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Coliseum Medical Center. He was appointed by the Governor to the Louisiana State Medical Advisory Board. In October of 2001, he moved to Hattiesburg, MS and has practiced out-patient general psychiatry with the South Mississippi Psychiatric Group since that time. He was elected a Distinguished Life Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association. He is a member of the American Medical Association, the American Psychiatric Association, the Mississippi Psychiatric Association, the Mississippi Medical Association, and Consultant to the American Clinical Society of Hypnosis. He was a member of the Parkway Heights Methodist Church and the Hattiesburg Country Club. He is survived by his wife, Patricia Graham Ruffin of Hattiesburg; daughter, Emily Ann Ruffin of Taos, New Mexico; step-son, Norman Graham Jones of Laurel; two grandchildren, Ryan Graham Jones and Caroline Elizabeth Jones; and a host of cousins, nieces, and nephews. Services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, July 22, 2016, at Memory Chapel in Laurel with visitation beginning at 1 p.m. Burial will follow at Crestview Cemetery. Rev. Eddie Rester will officiate. “may my heart always be open to little birds who are the secrets of living" E.E. Cummings

Glenn B. Ruffin

January 3, 1926 - July 17, 2016