Mr. Ruffus Lee Peoples was born May 16, 1958 in East Saint Louis, IL to the union of the late James C. Peoples Sr. and Mrs. Millie Christine (Wallace) Peoples.

He was a life-long member of Rising Star Missionary Baptist Church in St. Louis, MO. Ruffus was "born again" under the leadership of the late Reverend Andrew Lee Smith and baptized in the Mississippi River of the fourth Sunday in August of the same year.

Rufus attended public school in East Saint Louis and he joined the United States Army in 1978 until he was discharged in 1982. During his tour of duty for the Army he obtained his GED while stationed in Germany.

Ruffus Lee Peoples enjoyed life and he lived it to the fullest. He was known for sitting under a cool place listening to his old school R&B music. He was a dedicated family man known for talking about his two grandchildren (Zharya and Lammarion) whom he loved so dearly. Everyone who knew him loved his larger than life exuberating personality that we will miss dearly.

Mr. Ruffus Lee Peoples departed this life on July 13, 2020 at the Care Center for Center Groves Nursing Home in Edwardsville, Illinois.

He is preceded in death by his father Mr. James C. Peoples Sr., his mother Mrs. Millie C. Peoples; four brothers, James Jr Derrick Ramon, Danny Ellis and Carlos Liddell Peoples; two sisters Kathy Marie and Vanessa Peoples; twin grandsons Kevin and Keith Hammock.

Ruffus leaves to cherish his memory and mourn his passing; two daughters Mrs. Karennythia Sykes of Cahokia, IL. and Trina Peoples of Lebanon, IL.; two grandchildren, Zharya Hammock and Lamarrion Ford; son-in-law Ricardo Sykes of Wood River, IL; two step-sons, Everist (Woody) Donald of Lebanon, IL. and William (Duke) Hicks of New Haven, MO.; three sisters, Patricia Peoples of Sierra Vista, Arizona, Leanna (Katherine) Peoples of East St. Louis, IL, and Christine Peoples of Shalimar, Florida, one daughter-in-law, Peige Daniels; and a host of nieces, nephews and cousins.