Frances Pooser Ratzlaff

1921 - 2008

Frances Pooser Ratzlaff of Marianna, Fla., died Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2008, at her daughter's home in Panama City, Fla., after a courageous battle with cancer.

Mrs. Ratzlaff was born Feb. 10, 1921, in Mayport, Fla., the daughter of Wankard Pooser and Maude Marie Brogdon Pooser. When she was very young, her family moved to Jackson County, Fla., where she graduated from Marianna High School in 1938.

Her work career began at Florida Public Utilities, after which she worked for 28 years for the city of Marianna, with 20 of those years as city clerk always being elected without opposition. After retiring from the city in 1987, she volunteered with the Jackson Hospital Auxiliary for 20 years, serving several offices in the organization; with the Chamber of Commerce, earning a service achievement award; and in the office of First Baptist Church, where she was a member for more than 55 years.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her beloved husband of 54 years, Leonard George Ratzlaff; her son, John Alan Ratzlaff; her sisters, Willie Maude Reeves and Martha Ann Sims; and her brothers, Charles Henry Pooser, John Waymer Pooser and James Elliot Pooser. She is survived by her daughters, Carolyn Ann Ratzlaff (Cliff) Ellis of Garden City, S.C., and Mary Beth (Harry) Frank of Panama City, Fla.; daughter-in-law, Debbie Ratzlaff (Don) Kelley of Marianna; grandchildren, Chryssa Deanne Ellis (Tony) Rutland of Clemson, S.C., Robert Clayton Ellis of Garden City, S.C., Anna Catherine Ellis of Pendleton, S.C., Christopher Brett (Lacey) Frank of Panama City, Nicholas Alexander Ratzlaff of Marianna and Peter Gerhard Ratzlaff of Marianna; stepgranddaughter, Leslie McLain (Jake) Linton; and great-grandchildren, Hannah Grace and John Ellis Rutland of Clemson, S.C., and Landon Noah Frank of Panama City, Fla. She also is survived by two brothers, Wankard L. Pooser and Lucius Belinger "Cap" (Joyce) Pooser, both of Marianna; and three sisters, Sally Elizabeth (Bob) New of Orlando, Fla., and Kathryn Lucille Ross and Annie Laura Scott of Houston.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m., Friday, Jan. 25, 2008, at First Baptist Church of Marianna with Dr. William Montgomery officiating. Burial will follow in Riverside Cemetery with James & Sikes Funeral Home Maddox Chapel directing.

The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 24, 2008, at First Baptist Church Main Sanctuary in Marianna.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Leonard G. Ratzlaff Scholarship fund of the Baptist Theological College, 5400 College Drive, Graceville, FL 32440; or John A. Ratzlaff Scholarship, c/o Chipola College Foundation, 3094 Indian Circle, Marianna, FL 32446.


James & Sikes Funeral Home
Maddox Chapel
Marianna, Fla. 32446
482-2332 4278 Lafayette St.