Cicely Irma Ratcliff

Cicely (Ratcliff) Hanawa went home to be with the Lord on February 26, 2026. She was the adored wife of David Hanawa and the beloved mother of Michael (Melana) Forbes and Desiree (Tim) Chegin. She was the cherished grandmother of Jonathan, Michael Jr. and Paul. Cicely was born in British Guiana to Clarence and Ursula Ross on November 21, 1931 as Cicely Arbothnott Ross.

Cicely is also deeply loved by her brothers Edwin and Mervin as well as her many nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her grandson Christopher, her brother Bugs and her sisters Joyce, Jean and Ann.

Cicely was a force of nature—an entrepreneur, a visionary, and a woman whose compassion could be felt by anyone she met. In 1980, she founded Live Now Ministries. What began as a simple outreach grew into a decades long mission. Her heart was anchored in the spirit of the Good Samaritan and in answering the question, “Who is my neighbour?” For Cicely, the answer was always the same: the sick, the needy, the naked, the hungry and the homeless.

Her ministry expanded to include her beloved veterans and countless families in need. She touched thousands, fed thousands, and prayed for thousands, always asking nothing in return. In 1992, Cicely was awarded America’s 845th Point of Light by President George H. W. Bush, a national recognition of her tireless commitment and selfless service.

She made the Rio Grande Valley area her mission field and poured herself out for decades in service to others.

Cicely was also a gifted writer. She penned hundreds of poems, works of literature, and songs, always signing them simply as “The Master’s Pen.” Her words carried the same compassion and conviction that defined her life.

We honour Cicely’s life with an excerpt from her poem “The Poet’s Garden”: “I write not because I am a poet, I write because I hold the Poet’s Pen…” These words are the embodiment of her life’s mission and the work she walked out in humility and grace toward all she touched.

As Cicely entered her eternal rest, she exemplified 1 Timothy 4:7: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith.”

A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.