Virginia Berniece Ratliff's Obituary
Virginia Berniece Ratliff passed away on March 7, 2020 at the age of 91 in Orlando, Florida after a 10 year battle with Alzheimer’s. She was born on August 18, 1928 in the tiny town of Birchleaf, Virginia, tucked away in the Appalachian Mountains where her family had lived for hundreds of years.
Berniece graduated from Haysi High School in Haysi, Virginia, where she met her husband Gayther Lawrence Ratliff. They were married in 1948 and were married for 47 years before Gayther passed in 1995. She lived a long, rewarding life, in Hazel Park Michigan, from 1963-2010 and then moved to enjoy the warm sun in Orlando, Florida for the last 10 years.
Her family will remember her for being a loving wife, sister, mother and grandmother, her loving nature, always willing to babysit the grandchildren, her fun nature and ability to laugh at herself. She grew up loving blue grass and country music. She was known for her Southern cooking and we had many wonderful family meals together. She was a good bowler and could beat us at ping pong.
Virginia Berniece was the daughter of Holiday and Myrtle (Arrington) Edwards. She was known as “Mom” to her 4 children: Linda Omura (Glenn), Michael Ratliff (Jennifer Fowlkes), David Ratliff (Pam), Douglas Keith Ratliff (Audrey); and “Gram” to her 9 Grandchildren: Jessica Mariko Omura (David Traver), Jacqueline Carinne Mirate (Sean), Jeffrey Omura, Gabriel Ratliff (Melissa), Shelby Ratliff, Jennifer Ratliff (Adam Nguyen), Aaron Ratliff (Brenda Wolcott), Christopher Ratliff (Kristy), and Sarah Pogasic (Eddie). She also has 12 Great Grandchildren: Rachel, Ashley, Kyle, Melissa, Brynn, Blakely, Briar, Carson, Isabelle, Isla, Dominic, and Avy. She has 4 siblings, Joe Edwards (deceased) (Jean), Hansel Edwards (Loretta), Lois Judd (Danny), Mary Edwards (deceased as a baby).
Visitation will be held on Saturday, March 14th from 10:00 am to 12:00 noon. The Funeral Service will be held at 12:00 noon at Hopcroft Funeral Home, 31145 John R. Road, (1 block North of 13 Mile Road, West side of John R. Road), Madison Heights, Michigan. Burial will follow at White Chapel Cemetery, Troy, Michigan
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