She is preceded in death by her husband of 58 years, Lawrence H. Rattley, Jr.
Iris attended Johnson C. Smith University, receiving B.A. in English. During her time there, she met and
fell in love with classmate Lawrence H. Rattley, Jr. The two married on September 17, 1950.
The couple moved to Washington, DC in the early 1950s. Iris began her career as a communications clerk
at the National Security Agency. In 1964, she resigned to become a stay-at-home mom to care for her
family. Years later, she made the decision to return to work and continue her education at University of
Maryland, receiving a second bachelor’s degree in elementary education. Iris began teaching elementary
school in District of Columbia Public Schools in 1968. In 1975, she furthered her career by receiving a
master’s degree in administration from Bowie State University. Iris continued to teach for 33 years until
her retirement in 1995.
Iris was passionate about her community and encouraging development and growth for young people in
Washington, DC. During her teaching tenure, she sponsored activities such as student council, safety
patrol and reading programs. Iris also served as a member of the Washington Parent Group Fund,
parent-teacher association and community partnership with the Metropolitan Police Department. She
was a member of Delta Sigma Theta, Inc. and the American Business Women’s Association. Iris was also
a member of the congregation at Sargent Memorial Presbyterian Church, where she taught vacation
bible school. After the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr., Iris saw a need to further help her
community and worked alongside her church members as a camp counselor at Camp Chesapeake, a
summer program for kids from underserved communities in Washington, D.C.
In her spare time, Iris loved to entertain family and friends at her home in Washington, DC. In her later
years, she enjoyed talking with friends and family, meditating, reading, doing word find puzzles and
writing in her journal.
Iris was a loving and devoted wife, mother, grandmother, sister and aunt. She is survived by her two
children, Lawrence H. Rattley III (Josephine) and Kathryn Rattley Ross (Derek Sr.), three grandchildren,
Nadia, Ashley (Bryant) and Derek Jr., a host of other loving relatives and many friends.
Iris M Rattley will be laid to rest on Friday, June 26, 2020 at 2:00 pm.
In lieu of flowers, you may make a donation to Sacred Heart Home
5805 Queens Chapel Road
Hyattsville, MD 20782
Attention: Sister Vacha Kludziak, SSMI (Administrator)
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