Mr. Ratliff was born July 28, 1942, the son of the late Jadie Eugene Ratliff and Annie Lucille Ricks Ratliff.

He was preceded in death by one brother, Paul Melwood and one sister, Marion M. Edwards.

Mr. Ratliff is survived by two daughters, Elizabeth R. Griffin and her husband, Frankie Griffin, Jr, of Roanoke Rapids, and Tammy R. Sanchez, and her husband, Jamie, of Mission, TX; one son, James A. Ratliff, Jr. of Fullujah, Iraq; four grandchildren, Heather Griffin, Frankie Griffin, III, Ariana Sanchez and Abigail Sanchez; one stepson, Michael Lillman, of Garden City, KS; six brothers, Jadie Ratliff of Las Vegas, NV, Jeff Ratliff of NJ, Don Juan Hawkins of NJ, Victor Hawkins, Harold Hawkins, and Tony Hawkins, all of FL; one sister, Anita Crawn of FL; and several nieces and nephews.

Askew Funeral & Cremation Services in Roanoke Rapids is handling the arrangements, where the family will receive friends on Wednesday, June 4, from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. Graveside funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, June 5, 2008 at Cedarwood Cemetery with Rev. Earl Cain officiating.