Frances Marian Ratcliff

Frances Marian Tabb Ratcliff passed away on Wednesday, April 24, 2024, at Chateau Pines Assisted Living Community surrounded by her loving family. She was 80. She was the daughter of the late Herman Marion Tabb and Lula Mae Garrett Tabb.
She was a 1961 graduate of Madison-Ridgeland High School where she shared the title of Valedictorian. She attended Mississippi College where she earned her bachelor's degree in Education. Frances was an excellent teacher. She taught at Bailey Magnet School, Puckett High School, and finished her teaching career at Brandon High School in 1997. She taught English and Latin and was also the tennis coach at Brandon High School for many years. She retired after 26 years of teaching.
At the time of her death, she was an active member of First Baptist Church of Brandon. Throughout her life, she attended Robinson Street Baptist Church and Midway Baptist Church where she sang in the choir and ensembles, taught children's choir, Sunday school, and vacation bible school. Frances also taught many bible studies. She also took pride in learning how to teach Precept Bible Study classes and went on to teach many Precept classes. She loved sharing about Jesus and making sure people knew how to study His Word. She touched so many lives for Christ.
Frances enjoyed many activities throughout her life and she had a very competitive side. She loved to play the piano and sing. Frances grew up water skiing, playing basketball, volleyball, softball, and tennis. She also had a love for traveling.
She loved, adored, and cherished her family. She will be greatly missed.
Frances is preceded in death by her husband of 54 years, Robert Allen Ratcliff and sister, Charlotte McLendon.
She is survived by her son, Marcus Allen Ratcliff (Beth); daughter, Melissa Joy Smith (Johnny), all of Flowood; grandchildren, Lori Beth Jones (Adison), Wilson Robert Ballew (Ashley), Brittany Joy Cook (Zachery); step grandchildren, Mackenzie Lynn Smith, John Hunter Smith (Chloe); great grandchildren, Cashe Adam Cook, Oakleigh Grace Smith, Abram Thomas Jones, Stella Joy Cook, Lachlyn Briggs Mohon, John Hudson Smith, Elijah Wilson Ballew, and numerous other relatives and friends.
Friends are invited to visitation with the family after 10:00 am on Friday, April 26, 2024, at First Baptist Church of Brandon, 309 S. College Street, followed by funeral service which will begin at 12:00 noon with Bro. John Thomas and Roy Lively officiating. Interment will follow in Crestview Memorial Gardens in Brandon.
Pallbearers will be Wilson Ballew, Adison Jones, Zachery Cook, Hunter Smith, Aiden McLendon, Joseph Ianelli, Brantley Moore, and Percy Moore.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to the Alzheimer's Association Mississippi Chapter. (alz.org)