Memories
of
Ashley Ruffin
In loving memory of our
unsung heroin, Ashley Ruffin, who is the martyr, matriarch, and the essential
cornerstone of the origin of the “Shepherd’s Door.” Allow us to introduce you to Ashley Ruffin,
who was known for the AWESOME work she performed as a renowned hair stylist in
New Orleans, Louisiana. Ashley Ruffin won numerous awards competing in hair
shows; for this reason, Ashley’s popularity was epic, proceeding the years,
prior to the disasters of Hurricane Katrina.
Consequently, like many
others, Ashley and her family’s home was destroyed by Katrina’s havoc;
resulting in Ashley’s family been caught up in the diaspora that required her,
her husband, and her 3 years old daughter, to temporarily relocate to Houston,
Texas, where they abode with friends. At this time, in Ashley’s life, she and
her husband were newlyweds of 10 months, having joined in holy matrimony on 31
January 2005.
Even as newlyweds,
Ashley and her family were no strangers to success and notoriety. For many years,
Ashley, 35 years of age, was acclaimed within the success of being a
well-established business owner of her own hair salon in one of the largest and
well-known cities in the United States – New Orleans, Louisiana.
Unfortunately, during
the years of Katrina’s diaspora, Ashley and her family faced financial
disparities and hardships. Now being relocated to a new city and state, where
she was not known, and without her normal clientele; she and her new husband
began to argue and fight more frequently. Therefore, Ashley decides to move
back to New Orleans to reconnect with her clients and move forward with her
business, in the absence of her husband.
Although Ashley left
her husband and the discords of a broken marriage in Houston, Texas; the drama culminating
their separation, continue to pursue her, even back to the parishes of New
Orleans. The threats against Ashley
began more and more regularly; she begin to fear for her life. At which point,
she filed for a restraining order against her abuser; nevertheless, he continue
to place threats against her life.
Police records indicated, on 28 November,
2006; Ashley stated to a local Police Officer, “may be when he kills me, you
all will do something about him!" Following this, Ashley called the police
several times, informing them that he was continuously stalking her; even
attempted to run her off the road; and calling her continuously making death
threats. On the other hand, Ashley was informed by the police, “they could not
do anything with him.”
On the same day, her husband appeared at her
job causing a great disturbance, but fleeing before authorities had arrived.
But he didn’t stop there, he decided, later on that day, to further his torment
of Ashley, by disregarding a court-imposed protective order that barred him
from being near her. At which time, her assassin, stabbed her 19 times; along
with cutting her throat, leaving her to die in the door way of her Wall
Boulevard Apartments, where Ashley and her daughter lived.
While running from the local authorities, her husband, now a murder
suspect; called several relatives using Ashley’s cell phone.
While her husband taunted family
member’s with the devastating news, via using Ashley’s own cell phone as the
vehicle, to deliver the tragedy. In the midst of all this mayhem, Ashley’s
killer called Ashley’s mother and informed her that he killed her daughter; at
the same time, blaming Ashley's own mother, for the vicious act that he
committed against her beloved child.
Finally, 11 months later, after intensive search, law enforcement
officers caught Ashley's abuser and killer in Atlanta, Georgia. Ashley’s
murderer was convicted of 1st degree murder and sentenced to life imprisonment,
without parole. Ashley was a woman of God, a woman of integrity, and a woman
full of honesty; she was loved by many, and will never be forgotten.
To conclude, as a result of Ashley’s abusive afflictions, tribulations
and demise, guidance to a way out of abusive relationships; and an end to the
abuse of the “battery woman syndrome” through the Shepherd’s Door is available
to anyone – male or female – experiencing abuse of various categories, be it
verbal, emotional, physical, or elderly abuse.
