Thomas “Tom” Rankin Ratcliff, 82, a resident of Natchez andBrookhaven, died Dec. 29, 2010, at the University of MississippiMedical Center in Jackson, battling leukemia.

Visitation is Saturday, Jan. 1, 2011, from 5 until 8 p.m. atFranklin Funeral Home in Meadville, with visitation resuming atnoon on Sunday until funeral time at 2 p.m. at the funeral homechapel. Burial will follow at Concord Baptist Church Cemetery inFranklin County.

Tom was born July 31, 1928, in McCall Creek. He graduated fromIndependence School in 1948 and took night classes at WhitworthCollege. He worked at Stahl-Urban in Brookhaven, where he met hissweetheart Birdie Blaise. Tom and Birdie married Aug. 16, 1950.From 1951-1952 he served his country in the Korean War, fighting onthe front lines in Japan and Korea. After returning from war, heworked at Stahl-Urban and later moved to Natchez where he workedwith Armstrong Tire Company for more than 30 years.

Tom was preceded in death by his parents, John Henry Ratcliffand Ollie Mae Dixon Ratcliff, of McCall Creek.

Tom is survived by his wife of 60 years, Birdie Blaise Ratcliff;two sons, Thomas “Tommy” Ratcliff Jr. and Ernest “Ernie J.”Ratcliff, of Natchez; two daughters and sons-in-law, Linda and KenMuehlenfeld of Auburn, Ala., and Lou Ann and Joey Wall ofBrookhaven; eight grandchildren, Emily, Matt, Melissa and MitchMuehlenfeld of Auburn, and Laurie Wall Winge, Joel, Laney andLindey Wall of Brookhaven; two great-grandsons Garren and Parker;two brothers, John W. Ratcliff and wife Ione of New Orleans, La.,and Joseph E. Ratcliff of McCall Creek; and numerous nieces,nephews and other relatives.

Pallbearers are Ken Muehlenfeld, Matt Muehlenfeld, MitchMuehlenfeld, Joel Wall, Joey Wall, Ricky Ratcliff, RickStrawbridge, Andy Strawbridge and Brian Upton.