A.M. Ratcliff, Sr.

January 26, 1925-July 4, 2019 

NATCHEZ — Funeral services for A. M. Ratcliff, Sr., 94, of Natchez who died Thursday July 4, 2019, after a brief illness, will be 1 p.m. on Tuesday July 9, 2019 at Laird Funeral Home Chapel. Graveside services, for family members only, will take place at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church Cemetery immediately after the funeral service under the direction of Laird Funeral Home. 

Visitation will be 11 a.m. Tuesday until service time at the funeral home. 

Mr. Ratcliff was born Jan. 26, 1925, in Lucian, Mississippi, the son of Alex Ratcliff and Lula Mae Dickey Ratcliff.  He was a resident of Natchez for most of his life. He served in the United States Navy’s 7th Fleet in the Pacific as a gunner aboard LCI(R) 331.

Mr. Ratcliff was wounded in action at Leyte Island during the invasion of the Philippines but remained aboard his ship for the duration of the war. He graduated from Mississippi State University in 1950 and was employed by International Paper Company for 45 years. During that time, he also became Treasurer of the Old South Federal Credit Union and continued to serve on the Board of Directors of the Credit Union after retirement. Mr. Ratcliff was inducted into the Mississippi Credit Union System Hall of Fame. He enjoyed going to church, playing golf, working in his flower beds at home, attending credit union board meetings, and just being with his wife. 

Survivors include his wife Helen, his son, Andy Ratcliff (Ellen), his grandson, Drew Ratcliff (Becky), and his great-granddaughter, Anna Marks Ratcliff, all from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He is also survived by his two stepsons, James Bunch (Sylvia)and Dunbar Bunch (Kristie) and sister-in-law Sarah Porter, his brother, F. J. Ratcliff, nephew, Bradley Ratcliff (Jan), and his grand niece and nephew, Susannah and Sam Ratcliff all of Brookhaven, Mississippi. 

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Joyce Cain Ratcliff, sisters, Jimmie Dixon and Helen Allred, brother, Alex Ratcliff, Jr., sister-in-law, Liz Ratcliff and stepson, Davis Bunch. 

Pallbearers will be Drew Ratcliff, Tim McCann, Charles Thomas, Dan Williams, Jimmie Simmons and Michael Anderson.

Honorary pallbearers will be Bruce McCann, James Bunch and Dunbar Bunch. 

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Mississippi Alzheimer’s Society, the American Heart Association or charity of your choice.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at lairdfh.com