Donna Cecile (West) Ratliff, lovingly known to many as "Pearl," 73, of Foxworth, went to be with the Lord on Saturday, September 21, 2024. If Elvis Presley, Fats Domino, and Vestal Goodman are in Heaven, Donna likely chased them down immediately upon her arrival and requested they sing her favorite songs. She will be remembered for her fun-loving personality, quick wit, determination, and deep love for her family and friends.
Donna was born on June 16, 1951, in Prentiss, MS, and was destined to bring laughter and joy to many throughout her life. Always the life of the party, Donna found her place among friends and at school, graduating from West Marion High School in 1969. She continued her education at the University of Southern Mississippi, where she earned a degree in Special Education and later a Master's degree. In 1973, she married her sweetheart, Larry Ratliff.
Donna’s life revolved around her daughter, Melanie, of whom she was immensely proud, as well as her family and students. She had a special love for young people, who were drawn to her because she knew how to enjoy life to the fullest. She was “another mother” to many of Melanie’s friends. If you were around "Pearl," you were bound to laugh and have fun.
She began her teaching career at the Columbia Training School and later taught for 28 years at her alma mater, West Marion High School. More than just a teacher, her passion was for her students and children. She was a frequent presence at athletic events, pep rallies, proms, and school dances, always ready to lend a listening ear to students going through tough times. It's rumored she even joined her students in "rolling" a yard or two over the years. Donna cherished staying connected with her students long after they had graduated and started families of their own.
Donna had many hobbies, including watching movies, reading the latest biographies, bestsellers, or crime novels, cheering on the Kansas City Chiefs, playing Yahtzee, going out to eat, and shopping. When she could no longer shop in person as often as she wanted, Donna nearly kept Amazon in business single-handedly. For as long as she could drive, she wore out the tires on her cars and did her best, sometimes unsuccessfully, to dodge deer. Always ready for an adventure, she enjoyed numerous trips to the Smoky Mountains and even braved her fear of flying and water to join good friends on cruises and an international tour.
A member of Mt. Sinai Church of God, Donna found great joy attending services and Bible studies in recent years until her health declined. She accepted Christ as a young girl at Foxworth First Baptist Church. While she wasn’t always vocal about her faith, she had a deep reverence for God and clung to her beliefs, which strengthened in recent years. She especially enjoyed old hymns and Southern Gospel music, and she was known as a generous person and a loyal friend.
She was preceded in death by her infant daughter, Melinda Marie Ratliff; her father, Donald West of Kilgore, Texas; her special aunt and “mother,” Berteel Herrington Martin; her nephew, Donnie Joe West; her great-niece, Lauren Phipps; her sister-in-law, Gail Ratliff Thornhill; her cousin who she considered a brother, Tommy Martin and her parents, Odie Mae Herrington Fortenberry and Rosebud Fortenberry.
Donna is survived by her devoted husband of 51 years, Larry Ratliff; her loving daughter, Melanie Ratliff; her sister, Mary Ann Morgan (Larry); her brother, Randy West (Donna Lynn); her mother-in-love, Fae Ratliff; her cousin and honorary sister, Cheryl Newcomer; her nephews, Joe Ray Newcomer, Jeremy Thornhill and Louis Morgan; and her nieces, Renee Newcomer Mathias, Chandra Carney Knight, Chastity Thornhill Magee, Ashley West Landry, and Amanda West Smith, along with numerous great-nieces and nephews. Donna also leaves behind many relatives and friends who were blessed to know her and who were considered "family" to her.
Visitation will be from 2:00 to 4:30 p.m. on Monday, September 23, 2024, at Woodlawn Church in Columbia, with a Celebration of Life service beginning at 4:30 p.m. Officiating the service will be her nephew, Dr. Louis Morgan, and Pastor Jerron Carney, with special music provided by Joe Bracey, Alandra Wilson, and Tonya Wallace Farmer. Burial will follow at Mt. Sinai Cemetery in Foxworth.
Serving as pallbearers will be Joe Ray Newcomer, Jeremy Thornhill, Channing Phipps, Chase Thornhill, Cooper Thornhill, Preston Sauls, Corey Pittman, Mark Bedwell, Cody Magee, Trevor Ball, Bradley Newcomer, and Mark Phipps.
