Sandra Ruffin: Who was David Ruffin’s First Wife?

By | August 8, 2023
Sandra Ruffin: Who was David Ruffin's First Wife?

Sandra Ruffin was once a celebrity wife. Sandra is widely remembered for marrying American soul singer and musician David Ruffin, who was ranked in the Top 100 Singers of All Time by Rolling Stone magazine in 2008. David had a fantastic career, spanning over three decades, from 1951 till his death in 1991.

David Ruffin used to be one of the lead singers for an American vocal group called The Temptations. David went on to become a solo musician after he left the band. He rose to become one of the great musicians of his time. He was married twice in his lifetime, and one of the first of his wives was Sandra Ruffin.

Could you keep reading to know more about her?

Who was Sandra Ruffin?

Sandra Ruffin was born with the birth name Sandra Barnes. She was a personality who rose to fame by her union with David Ruffin. Sandra was born in the United States of America. She was an American citizen and belonged to the black ethnicity. Information concerning her family background, age, and other personal information is yet to be disclosed to the public.

Sandra’s late ex-husband, David, was born to a Mississippi couple named Eli Ruffin and Ophelia Ruffin. His father was a truck driver who worked with lumber mills in Mississipi. His mother, Ophelia, was also a housewife who spent most of her time caring for David and his other siblings.

Though nothing is known about Sandra Ruffin’s career, her ex-husband, David Ruffin, was a musician. David’s father was a Baptist minister, and this exposed him to music at an early age.

Sandra Ruffin was the first wife of David Ruffin

According to David Ruffin’s Wikipedia, he married twice in his lifetime. His first marriage was to Sandra Ruffin. The former couple first met in 1960. The situation and circumstances they first met are yet to be disclosed. After dating for a year, they later got together as a couple in 1961. Invited family and friends of the couple attended Sandra and David’s marriage.

The marriage between the former love birds lasted for six years. They divorced in 1967 after having three children together. The reason for their divorce was later disclosed to the public by Gena Sapin, a woman David had a romantic relationship with while still married to Sandra Ruffin. David was accused of being abusive and an infidel.

Sandra’s children with David were Cheryl Ruffin, Nedra Ruffin, and Kimberley Ruffin. The children had a stepbrother named David E. Sapia, the child of David Ruffin, and his girlfriend, Gena Sapin. All of the children of the legendary musician were influenced in different ways by their father.

Sandra Ruffin went out of the limelight after her divorce from David Ruffin. Information on whether she got married again or had other children are yet to be made known to the public.

Sandra Ruffin’s ex-husband struggled with addictions

David Ruffin, who was born with the birth name, David Eli Ruffin, was born on January 18, 1941. He was the son of Eli Ruffin and Ophelia Ruffin, a couple who spent their entire life living in Mississipi. He rose to fame when he became one of the lead singers of the Temptations.

He was the lead voice behind some of the band’s most successful songs, including ”My Girl” and ” Aint Too Proud To Beg”. He was a band member from 1964 to 1968, after which he went on to do his solo projects.

Sandra Ruffin’s ex-husband, David, struggled with drug addiction throughout his career. In 1967, he sought help to deal with his addiction. He was arrested on several occasions for drug use and possession.

David died on June 1, 1991, at age 50. He died after he had completed a tour in England. He died of an overdose of crack cocaine. His four children and his then-wife, Tammi Terrel, succeeded him in death.