Thomas Ratcliff

Published 12:00 am Saturday, January 15, 2011

MEADVILLE — Services for Thomas R. Ratcliff, 82, of Natchez and Brookhaven, who died Thursday, Dec. 29, 2010, at the University Medical Center in Jackson, battling leukemia, were 2 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 2, 2011, at Franklin Funeral Home Chapel.

Burial followed at Concord Baptist Church Cemetery under the direction of Franklin Funeral Home in Meadville.

Mr. Ratcliff was born July 31, 1928, in McCall Creek, the son of John Henry Ratcliff and Ollie Mae Dixon Ratcliff. He was a 1948 graduate of Independence School and attended night classes at Whitworth College.

Tom was employed by Stahl Urban in Brookhaven where he met his sweetheart, Birdie Blaise. Tom and Birdie married Aug. 16, 1950. From 1951 to 1952, he served his country in the Korean War fighting on the front lines in Japan and Korea. Returning from war, he was employed by Stahl Urban and later moved to Natchez where he was employed by Armstrong Tire and Rubber Company for more than 30 years.

He was preceded in death by his parents of McCall Creek.

Survivors include his wife of 60 years, Birdie Blaise Ratcliff; two sons, Thomas “Tommy” Ratcliff Jr. and Ernest “Ernie J.” Ratcliff, both of Natchez; two daughters, Linda Muehlenfeld and husband, Ken, of Auburn, Ala., and Lou Ann Wall and husband, Joey, of Brookhaven; eight grandchildren, Emily, Matt, Melissa and Mitch Muehlenfeld, all of Auburn, Laurie Wall Winge, Joel, Laney and Lindey Wall, all of Brookhaven; two great-grandsons, Garren and Parker; two brothers, John W. Ratcliff and wife, Ione, of New Orleans and Joseph E. Ratcliff of McCall Creek; and a number of nieces, nephews and other relatives.

Pallbearers were Ken Muehlenfeld, Matt Muehlenfeld, Mitch Muehlenfeld, Joel Wall, Joey Wall, Ricky Ratcliff, Rick Strawbridge, Andy Strawbridge and Brian Upton.