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Clyde Ratcliff, 66, of McComb, died of a heart attack, March 7,
2008. Visitation is 5 to 8 tonight at Jones Family Funeral Services
in McComb and noon Tuesday until services there at 2 p.m. Burial
will follow in Hollywood Cemetery. Dr. David Millican and the Rev.
Charles Ray will officiate. Friends and family will gather at
“Ratcliff Ruins” on Railroad Boulevard from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Tuesday
after the funeral to celebrate Mr. Ratcliff’s life.
He was was born Oct. 1, 1941, in McComb. Reared in McComb, he
graduated from McComb High School in 1960. While attending McComb
High, he played football at a “wringing wet” 156 pounds, a weight he
maintained his entire life, in spite of his daily helping of vanilla
ice cream.
He graduated from Mississippi State University with a bachelor of
arts degree in political science in 1964, working his way through
MSU at the large cathedral cafeteria, the gas pipeline in Florida
and working summers at the Palace Theater in downtown McComb. He
entered Ole Miss, the University of Mississippi Law School in 1964,
holding as many as three jobs at one time to pay for his education.
He earned his juris doctorate in 1967 from Ole Miss.
He began his distinguished law career in Houston, Miss., in 1967. He
moved to McComb in 1970, establishing his first law office above the
old Lott Furniture Store in downtown McComb. He moved his law
practice to the corner of Railroad and Main Street in 1973 or 1974.
T. Mack Brabham, moved in from 1976 to 1980, and the two sharpened
their trial skills while lifting weights in the basement.
Mr. Ratcliff was an excellent trial lawyer, a master in the court
room and always prepared. His family asked him when he knew when he
was ready for a trial, “when he couldn’t ask anymore questions” he
replied.
He was an advocate for women in his practice, a result of being
raised by a single mother, Veo Ratcliff. After retirement from law
in June 1997, he traded his suit and tie for a cap, his favorite
denim shirt, jeans and, when he needed to dress up, his favorite
Hawaiian shirt. Retirement enabled him to take up his passion of
construction full time. He enjoyed seeing the fruits of his labor
through the process and doing it for the people and places he loved.
Mr. Ratcliff was an ardent supporter for the revitalization of
downtown McComb. He was instrumental in establishing the Iron Horse
Festival. His thumbprint is on many downtown McComb properties,
including “Ratcliff Ruins” on Railroad, Bill Goodwin’s place on Main
Street, and assisting Jim Gilmore in designing the old Calvin
Cosnahan office on Broadway. Other works of his include the Billie
Nance Cottage, Jeff and Robbin Daughdrill’s pool house, a condo in
the Federal Fiber Mill building of the New Orleans Warehouse
District, a Destin, Fla., condo, and his most recent work, “the
camp” on the Blood River in Springfield La.
But his greatest love in retirement was people. He loved mission
work and was most touched by the work he did in Mexico, his most
recent trip with J.J. White Memorial Presbyterian Church. He was a
deep thinker, and loved to engage people from all over. It seemed
like he never met a stranger. He had many friends stretching all
over the country. He loved to entertain family and friends at his
camp and cruise the river on his new boat. His boat house is covered
with photos of all the people that visited.
He held his friends in high regard, both old and new alike. He had
lifelong friends like John Ellis and Joe. His favorite retirement
sport was keeping his legal argumentative skills honed with his
buddies T. Mack, Ed Bean, Ronnie, and Andy and Courtney. He enjoyed
a good meal with friends. He would often belly up to the counter of
Billie’s for conversation and a good meal.
“Dad wouldn’t move out on any project without first consulting with
Billie. He was a permanent fixture of the Broadway Deli, (where) he
had a standing order for a vanilla milkshake. His friends cherished
his loyalty and how Butch had their back. Many of his clients, like
Beverly, became longtime friends,” his family said.
Mr. Ratcliff loved to dance. He had a standing dance partner like
Patty. He traveled with his friends, Tommie Thomas and most recently
to the Caribbean with Jim Gilmore.
He loved his daughters, Adele and Michele, each for who they were.
He treasured the time his oldest grandson, Daniel, spent living with
him at the camp and enjoyed seeing how Jacob and Joshua blossomed as
golfers.
“In retirement, he loved doing what he did for the people he loved.
He became the man he wanted to be. He was a great friend, a great
father, and a great man. We miss him already,” his family said.Mr.
Ratcliff was preceded in death by his mother, Veo Ratcliff; his
aunt, Norma Bell Gill O’Brien; a sister, Claudette Paulk Fleming;
and a cousin, Norma Jean O’Brien Lockard and her husband Dan Lockard.
Survivors include his daughters, Angela Adele Ratcliff of
Springfield Va., and Michele and Chance Conerly of McComb;
grandsons, Daniel K. Smith, Joshua E. Nettles and Jacob Conerly, all
of McComb; a half-brother, Butch Hill and his wife Mary Ann of
Oklahoma; a cousin, Dr. Daniel Lockard of Grapevine, Texas; nephews,
Chuck and Clyde Paulk; and his soul mate, Karen Meyer and her son
Zack.
Pallbearers will be Adele Ratcliff, Daniel Smith, Mack Brabham, Ed
Bean, Dr. Andy Watson, John Ellis Solomon, Jim Gilmore and Ronnie
Whittington. Honorary pallbearers are Joe Sones, Jimmy Carol
Robertson, Johnny Nance, Bryan Harbour and Zack Johnston.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the J.J. White Memorial
Presbyterian Mexico Mission Fund, 110 Third St., McComb, MS 39648.
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