Zella Lois Williamson Ratliff

ZELLA LOIS WILLIAMSON RATLIFF, 83 years of age, of Oakwood, Va, went home to be with the Lord on Saturday, June 28, 2025, surrounded by her family at her Bristol home. Born February 14, 1942, in Phyllis, Ky, she was the daughter of the late Turl Williamson and Rosy Adkins Williamson.
Zella was of the Christian faith and attended Grace Tabernacle Church, Bristol, VA. She graduated from the LPN program Buchanan County Vocational School in 1984. She worked all her life helping people. She started working at Grundy Hospital before her marriage and continued in nursing until her retirement from The Clinic. Zella was the last surviving member of her immediate family. She enjoyed traveling, Elvis impersonators, but most of all spending time with her family. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother.
In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her siblings Frank (Loretta) Williamson, Kermit (Gay) Williamson, Marvin "Monk" Williamson, James (Mosalee) Williamson, Ersel (Verda) Williamson; sisters-in-law Ruth (Kelly) Rowe, Goldie Mullins, Carol Sue Howington; Father and mother-in-law Carl and Edgar Ratliff; brother-in-laws Arnold (Gail) Ratliff, Scotty Lambert, Buford Ratliff, Ronnie Parks, Basil Matney, Rages Matney; and special friend Ruby Owens.
Survivors include her loving husband of 63 years Arvil Ray Ratliff of Oakwood, Va; daughters Felecia Abdelfattah and husband Shamly of Bristol, Va, Tina Compton and husband David of Grundy, Va, Stephanie Branham and husband Joe of Bristol, Va; sisters-in-law Marie Matney of Richlands, Va, Phyllis Matney of Oakwood, Va, Martha Lambert of Tazewell, Va, Jan (Jerry) White of Richlands, Va, and Doris Parks of Grundy, Va.
She is also survived by grandchildren Bridgett (Terry Jay) Pack, Samir (Katy) Abdelfattah, Ben Compton, Jonathan Compton, Joseph Tyler Branham, Connor Branham; great grandchildren Lexi Vencill, Hunter Hale, Aiden Pack and one on the way Clover Abdelfattah; several nieces and nephews and special friend Sharon Wolford.
Funeral services for Zella Ratliff were held on Thursday, July 3, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. at Shortridge-Ramey Funeral Home, Keen Mountain, Va with Reverend David Horton and Reverend Michael Switzer officiating. Burial followed at Greenhills Memory Gardens, Claypool Hill, Va.
Pallbearers were Joe Branham, David Compton, Connor Branham, Tyler Branham, Terry J. Pack, Shamly Abdelfattah, Samir Abdelfattah, and Eardie Ward.
Honorary pallbearers were Benjamin Compton, Jonathan Compton, Hunter Hale, Aiden Pack and nephews.
The family received friends at the funeral home on Wednesday after 6:00 p.m.
Online condolences may be sent to www.shortridgeramey.com.
The funeral may be viewed live on the funeral homes Facebook page.
The family would like to give a special thanks to Pastor Rick Kelley and his wife Teresa of Grundy Baptist Church.
The family of Zella Lois Ratliff has entrusted the care of their loved one to Shortridge-Ramey Funeral Home of Keen Mountain, Va.