Obituary of Billie Janice "Johnnie" Ratcliff

Funeral services for Billie Janice "Johnnie" Ratcliff, age 86 of Clarks will be held at 6:00 PM Saturday, July 6, 2019 at Outreach Baptist Church, 7012 Hwy 4 W, Columbia with Bro. Jack McKeithen officiating and Reggy McDaniel delivering the eulogy. Interment will follow at Welcome Home Cemetery under the direction of Riser and Son Funeral Home of Columbia. Visitation will be Saturday at the church from 1:00 PM until service time at 6:00 PM.

Johnnie Ratcliff was born September 27, 1932 in Winn Parish to the union of her parents, William Dortlone and Verlie Parker Dortlone and she passed away July 4, 2019 at the Haven Nursing Center in Columbia. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Julian Ratcliff; daughter, Judy Thornton; brother, Bucky Dortlone and sisters: Hazel Brown, Nell Winter, and Linda Carter. Johnnie worked at Mac's grocery store in Columbia as a register clerk. She worked there for over 40 years and loved every minute of it. The store changed ownership several times throughout the years but she was always there to greet her customers with a smile. Every Sunday, Johnnie cooked dinner for her children and looked forward to everyone in the family being there to eat with her. She loved her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren unconditionally.

Left to cherish her memory is her son, Ricky Ratcliff and wife, Rhonda of Grayson; daughter, Pam Gayle and husband, Ricky of Douglass, Texas; grandchildren: Shasta Ratcliff, Savannah Meredith, Kelli Evans and husband, Cleve and Chris Thornton; a special niece, Diane Legg; great-grandchildren: Triston Evans, Adrianna Evans, Drew Frazier, Courtnie Frazier, Maggie Meredith, Ethan Davis and Presley Hendrix as well as a host of nieces and nephews.

Serving as pallbearers will be Drew Frazier, Triston Evans, Tanner McIlwain, Fisher May, Tanner Morgan, Cameron Green and Cameron Hogg. Honorary pallbearers include Jackie Lawrence, Reggy McDaniel, Joel Kaye, Matt Kaye and Steve May.

The family would like to thank the nurses and CNA's at the Haven for the loving care shown to Johnnie during her stay there. Also, Bro. Jack McKeithen and her Haven church family became a big part of her life and a constant joy for her soul. They were all very special to her.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital at www.stjude.org.