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Julian Lewis Ratcliffe, 70, of Laurel, formerly of Heidelberg, born October 23, 1953, left his earthly home for his reward in Heaven on Wednesday morning, February 28, 2024, at Wayne General Hospital.
Funeral services will be held on Sunday, March 3, 2024, at 2pm at Oakland Grove Baptist Church. He will be laid to rest in the Ratcliffe Family Section of Heidelberg City Cemetery. Rev. Corey Vermilyea, Rev. Mike Powell, and Rev. Jimmy Holder will officiate.
A graduate of Heidelberg Academy and Jones Junior College.
Julian retired from Howard Industries as a Scheduler for the Pole Division in 2002.
Before his health declined, Julian traveled on many Church Mission Trips building churches and homes across the United States and making ceramics. He loved everything outdoors from plants and flowers to hunting and fishing with his cousins and fishing buddies and helping people in need. He always enjoyed his trips to the Great Smoky Mountains.
He was also known for picking with you or cracking a joke or two and by following it up with “If I’m not picking with you then I don’t like you”.
Julian was a member of Oakland Grove Baptist Church where he volunteered his time in the kitchen for church and community activities. In the last few years, he assisted the flower committee.
He was preceded in death by his parents, JB (Rat) Ratcliffe, Jr and Christine Welborn Ratcliffe Henderson; infant brother, Bobby Lynn Ratcliffe; Grandparents, Herkel and Stella Varner Welborn and JB (Doc) Ratcliffe, Sr and Bessie Wheeler Ratcliffe; sister-in-law, Jo (Charles) Tiner; and many aunts and uncles.
He is survived by his loving wife of 48 years, Jelene Cleckler Ratcliffe of Laurel; son, Jason Lewis Ratcliffe of Magee; daughter, Julie Jelene Ratcliffe of Laurel; aunt, Lois Brownlee (Bobby) of Sandersville; and uncle, John Welborn (Ann) of Laurel; faithful neighbors, Mike and Brenda Gatlin, Leroy, Judy, and Allison Luke; loving friends, Charlie and Brenda Newcomb, Randy Sullivan, Mary and Buford Sumrall, and Laris Bishop; and many fishing buddies, cousins, and friends.
Visitation will be held Saturday, March 2, 2024, from 5:00-8:00 p.m.at Memory Chapel Funeral Home in Laurel, MS and from 1pm till 2pm on Sunday, March 3, 2024, at Oakland Grove Baptist Church, 2475 Pleasant Grove Road, Laurel, MS 39443.
Pall bearers will be Charlie Newcomb, Randy Sullivan, David Tiner, Mike Shoemake, Tony Brownlee, Charles Wayne Reynolds, and Wade “Shorty” Reynolds. Honorary Pallbearers will be John Welborn, Buford Sumrall, Donnie Evans, Daniel Riley, Lucas Evans, Tim Pippin, Daniel Roney, Mike Gatlin, Leroy Luke, and Vic Lee.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Oakland Grove Baptist Church Flower Committee, 2475 Pleasant Grove Road, Laurel, MS 39443; or Gideons International.
Memory Chapel Funeral Home in Laurel is in charge of arrangements.
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