Veneita Slade Ratcliff

Mrs. Ratcliff graduated from Hattiesburg High School in 1951. She and her sweetheart, Paul Ratcliff, married the same year after graduation; they were married for 72 years. From this union one daughter, Paula Bennett, was born in 1953.

Mrs. Ratcliff lived in and traveled to many exciting places along with her husband who served in the United States Air Force including California, Idaho, New Hampshire, Madrid, Spain, Georgia and Texas. She bravely managed her household while her husband served overseas for many months at a time.

Mrs. Ratcliff loved working with numbers, and always found work in bookkeeping or in banking. She was a past member of several businesswomen’s clubs. Mrs. Ratcliff found such joy in going to Sunday School and church. She was a faithful member of Broadmoor Baptist Church for almost 50 years. Mrs. Ratcliff adored her family and always enjoyed being with her friends. She loved to laugh and had a great sense of humor.

Mrs. Ratcliff is survived by her daughter, Paula Bennett; three grandchildren, Brooke Calhoun, Paul Bennett (Crystal), and Jill Castillo (John); seven great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren; several nieces, nephews, and cousins. Mrs. Ratcliff was eagerly looking forward to the arrival of another baby girl granddaughter in early 2025.

Mrs. Ratcliff was preceded in death by her husband, Paul C. Ratcliff; son-in-law Harold “Jay” Bennett; grandson-in-law, James Kirk Calhoun; sister, Carolyn Sylvester; brother, Donald Slade; baby brother, Billy Frank Slade; and parents, Virgil and Dorothy Slade.

Services for Mrs. Ratcliff will be held Friday, November 1, 2024, at Hill Crest Memorial Funeral Home at 2:00 p.m. Visitation will begin at 1:00 p.m. prior to the service. Interment will follow in Hill Crest Memorial Park.

Pallbearers will be Slade Bennett, Tucker Weems, Tanner Weems and Zach SanSoucie.

Special thanks to her loving caregiver, Mary Mosely, Dr. Scott Howard and Dr. Roan Flenniken.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital or Broadmoor Baptist Church.