Obituary for Jimmy Ratcliffe
JAMES CLAYTON RATCLIFFE JR. (Jimmy), age 70, of Ratcliffe Hill (Pine Acres), Lamison,
Alabama, was the son of the late James Clayton Ratcliffe, Sr. and Ann Laird Ratcliffe. He
was born in Selma, Alabama on August 7, 1952 and died suddenly on April 29, 2023.
He is survived by his daughter Candace Ann Ratcliffe of Marion, and sisters Jean
Ratcliffe Creswell (John) and Susan Ratcliffe Williams (Jimmy), both of Ratcliffe Hill. He
also leaves behind nieces and nephews: Leigh Williams, Jennifer Goggans, Anne
Goggans Capps (Justin), and Jamie Williams (all of Ratcliffe Hill), Kristi Williams Stokes
(Jason) of Thomaston, Clayton R. Tartt (Louise “Lulu” Brooks) of Tuscaloosa, and Hester
Tartt (Sonya) of Decatur, GA; as well as many great-nephews and nieces: Chance Dees-
Tartt (Mobile), Hunter, Charlie and Nathan Raney, Ty Capps and Mary Coleman Capps (all
of Ratcliffe Hill), and Sarah Ann Stokes, Camilla Stokes and Chase Stokes of Thomaston.
He was also survived by his long-term care-giver Prisilla Gary and numerous cousins on
the Ratcliffe and Fendley sides of his family.
Jimmy graduated high school in 1970 from Marion Military Institute and received his B.S.
in history from the University of West Alabama (formerly Livingston University) in 1983.
Except for a brief quarter at Auburn, MMI, and Livingston, he lived his entire life on what
the family calls Ratcliffe Hill or Pine Acres in the Lamison/Arlington area.
He was a history, math and PE teacher and coached women’s basketball at Catherine
Academy (Catherine, Alabama) from the 1980’s until 2000. He had many students, faculty
and staff at Catherine that benefited from his coaching and teaching. He also helped his
father around Pine Acres Stock Farm.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Embrace Alabama (4001 Carmichael Rd
Suite 235, Montgomery, AL 36106), the Pine Hill – Arlington Methodist Church (PO Box
250, Arlington, AL 36722), or MMI (1101 Washington St, Marion, AL 36756).
A memorial service will be held on Ratcliffe Hill (10227 AL Hwy 5, 3 miles south of
Lamison) on Saturday, May 13, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. All former students, teachers, friends
and family are invited to share in the celebration of his life.
Arrangements by O’Bryant Chapel Funeral Home and Crematory.
Alabama, was the son of the late James Clayton Ratcliffe, Sr. and Ann Laird Ratcliffe. He
was born in Selma, Alabama on August 7, 1952 and died suddenly on April 29, 2023.
He is survived by his daughter Candace Ann Ratcliffe of Marion, and sisters Jean
Ratcliffe Creswell (John) and Susan Ratcliffe Williams (Jimmy), both of Ratcliffe Hill. He
also leaves behind nieces and nephews: Leigh Williams, Jennifer Goggans, Anne
Goggans Capps (Justin), and Jamie Williams (all of Ratcliffe Hill), Kristi Williams Stokes
(Jason) of Thomaston, Clayton R. Tartt (Louise “Lulu” Brooks) of Tuscaloosa, and Hester
Tartt (Sonya) of Decatur, GA; as well as many great-nephews and nieces: Chance Dees-
Tartt (Mobile), Hunter, Charlie and Nathan Raney, Ty Capps and Mary Coleman Capps (all
of Ratcliffe Hill), and Sarah Ann Stokes, Camilla Stokes and Chase Stokes of Thomaston.
He was also survived by his long-term care-giver Prisilla Gary and numerous cousins on
the Ratcliffe and Fendley sides of his family.
Jimmy graduated high school in 1970 from Marion Military Institute and received his B.S.
in history from the University of West Alabama (formerly Livingston University) in 1983.
Except for a brief quarter at Auburn, MMI, and Livingston, he lived his entire life on what
the family calls Ratcliffe Hill or Pine Acres in the Lamison/Arlington area.
He was a history, math and PE teacher and coached women’s basketball at Catherine
Academy (Catherine, Alabama) from the 1980’s until 2000. He had many students, faculty
and staff at Catherine that benefited from his coaching and teaching. He also helped his
father around Pine Acres Stock Farm.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Embrace Alabama (4001 Carmichael Rd
Suite 235, Montgomery, AL 36106), the Pine Hill – Arlington Methodist Church (PO Box
250, Arlington, AL 36722), or MMI (1101 Washington St, Marion, AL 36756).
A memorial service will be held on Ratcliffe Hill (10227 AL Hwy 5, 3 miles south of
Lamison) on Saturday, May 13, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. All former students, teachers, friends
and family are invited to share in the celebration of his life.
Arrangements by O’Bryant Chapel Funeral Home and Crematory.