Chevalier Yoshia Ruff (Bam) was born on July 31, 1968, in Seneca, South Carolina, to the late Mizell Holland and Gloria J. Swilling-Holland. Late in the evening on September 25, 2021, she was called home.
Chevalier was educated in the Stephens County School System and graduated with the class of 1986. During her educational years, she was active in various organizations and sports including FBLA, VICA Model, Miss SCHS Pageant, Chairman of Fall Leadership, Secretary of The Black History Committee, and received the Tomahawk award. She participated in Softball and basketball in which she was an avid teammate. She went on to seek higher education in the University of Georgia and University of Phoenix. After moving to the Habersham area, she became active in Mt. Zion Baptist Church community. During her time there, she sang in the choir, served on the usher board and helped with the youth program. She later went on to join Ebenezer Baptist Church where she continued her love to sing. She also assisted with the performing arts ministry, served as youth director, senior choir director, assistant director to the youth choir and served in the hospitality ministry. She enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren, date nights with her husband and anything sweet.
She leaves to mourn her husband, Antoine (Andy) Ruff of Clarkesville; five children, Justin (Charkira) Holland of Toccoa, Joanna Holland of Stockbridge, Jai Holland of Cartersville, Jessica Holland-Fail of Toccoa, and Ashlin Ruff of Mt. Airy; one sister, Renae (Ricky) Gholston of Austell; nine grandchildren, Tristian, Jaxon, Dahlia, Jayla, Ella, King and newborn twins Aahlijah II & Aahliyah and Brielle; special niece and nephew, Thaddeus and Jasmine Gholston; aunts and uncle, James Swilling, Connie Scott, Dora Swilling, & Judy Swilling-Poole, Harriet Swilling & a special aunt, Daliah (Louise) Swilling; two special cousins, Carolyn Maxwell and Ericka Swilling-Nobles; mother-in-law, Barbara Blackwell; brother-in-law, Javon (Shana) Ruff; sister-in-law, Kawanya Varist; a host of cousins and friends.
Funeral services are scheduled for 2 pm on Saturday, October 2, 2021, in the Chapel of McGahee-Griffin & Stewart Funeral Home with Rev. Joe Lee Banks, Jr. officiating. Interment will follow in Level Grove Cemetery in Cornelia.
The family will receive friends from 7-9 pm on Friday at the funeral home.
Those in attendance are asked to please adhere to the public health and social distancing guidelines regarding COVID-19.
An online guest register is available and may be viewed at www.mcgaheegriffinandstewart.com.
McGahee-Griffin & Stewart Funeral Home of Cornelia, Georgia (706/778-8668) is in charge of arrangements.
