Minerva Garza Ruffin, 76, who was known to many as "Mama Tina", "Minnie" and "Aunt Peanut" transitioned to be with the Lord on December 17, 2023. Minerva was born January 31, 1947 to the parents Carmen Salinas Garza and Reynaldo Rubio Garza in Beeville, Texas. Minerva moved to Dallas, Texas in her early childhood, where she resided the remainder of her life. She attended South Oak Cliff School and later worked at Taylor Publishing Company from where she retired. Life after retirement was spent with family and friends, enjoying the love and care that was given.
Minerva is proceeded in death by her husband, Gerald Ruffin; her parents, Carmen and Reynaldo Garza; her sister, Leticia Garza; brother, Rosendo Garza.

Those left to cherish her precious memories include her son, Richard Blakemore, Jr.; step son, Willie Allston; stepdaughters, Jennifer Bell, and Liddie Autrey; granddaughters, Zchivaro Blakemore, and Tamara Skinner; grandsons, Desmond Blakemore, and Dewight Lee; great-grandchildren, Keion Hamilton, Desmond Blakemore, Jr., Heaven Blakemore, Nevaeh Blakemore; brothers, Reynaldo Garza, Jr. and Richard Garza; sisters, Elva Farrar, Mary Lou Montez, and Mary Louise Butler; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friend.