Joe Lewis Ratliff went home to be with the Lord on June 15, 2018.

Joe was born on December 25, 1935, in Kossuth, Mississippi to the union of Julius Ratliff and Mary Lee Stafford, who preceded him in death.

Joe professed his faith at an early age and was baptized at Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church located in his hometown. Joe later relocated to Cleveland, Ohio where he joined in fellowship with Grace Missionary Baptist Church. On November 25, 1975, Joe married Mattie Lee Suthers. To this union, 4 children were born.

Joe was a proud member of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers Local 16 Ohio and was quite successful during his vocation. He mastered the trade as a bricklayer so well that after he retired as a foreman at Jacob’s Field, Joe started a similar business of his own.  Throughout the years, Joe enjoyed the variety of employment opportunities his career path offered, which allowed him to take good care of his family as well as treat himself on an occasion…or two.

In Joe’s spare time, he enjoyed hunting, grilling, and making small talk with the neighbors.  Joe loved to dance and was quite good at it. He also had a stylish side about himself and knew he would knock’em dead sporting the latest fashion coordinated with a matching top hat.  Joe always found time to visit the sick and shut-in and would often be the first one on the scene.

Joe was preceded in death by his sisters, Julianne Ratliff, Mary Patterson, and Mary Alice Gunn;  brothers, Albert Ratliff, Calvin Ratliff, Robert Garrett, Carenell Garrett and Ralph Stafford.

Joe leaves to cherish his memory his loving wife of 43 years, Mattie Ratliff; children, Dwight Ratliff (Veronica), Daniel Ratliff (Tara), Michael Ratliff (Kreesha) and Lonell Ratliff; granddaughters, Aleia and Ava; sister and brother, Charlotte Robert and Parnel Garrett, both of Corinth, Mississippi; sisters, Alberta Howse, Mary Chancellor, Rosie Diane Barker (Mel) and Barbara Wynne, all from Cleveland Ohio and a sister, Shirley Ratliff of Humboldt, Tennessee; sister-in-law, Pauline Latson of Denver, Colorado and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, family and many friends, including Dorothy Miller.