Mary Gertrude Leatherwood Ratcliffe

Mary Gertrude Leatherwood Ratcliffe, of Oakman and Calhoun, passed away on Sunday, September 17, after weeks of declining health. A veteran teacher of more than 30 years in Gordon County, Mary continued to share art-istry and her love for reading with children in Vacation Bible School as long as her health allowed. Mary was an accomplished artist, an avid reader and writer, and she loved geneal-ogy. She was a graduate of Fairmount High School and Reinhardt, North Georgia, and West Georgia Colleges. She was a charter member of the Oakman Baptist Church and of the Beta Tau chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma. Mary was a member of the Palette Artistry Guild for more than 30 years and loved and was inspired by nature and by her love of rus-tic country landscapes and animals. She felt a particular kinship for the mountains of North Carolina and enjoyed seeing her family members there. Most recently she was a member of the First Baptist Church of Calhoun and the Ruth Sunday School class. Mary was the wife of the late Claude Ratcliffe, to whom she was married for 40 years; She was preceded in death by her parents, Sam and Ella Leatherwood, her brother, Alva Leath-erwood, and her sisters Hattie Wilson and Willie Leatherwood. She is survived by her son, Samuel Claude Ratcliffe, and his wife Nancy; her sister Lila MacDonald, her nephew, Bill Wilson, and his wife Violet, and by a special great- niece and her husband, Melanie (Wilson) and Michael Fleming. Though her family was small, Mary's love of them was unparalleled. Funeral services for Mary Leatherwood Ratcliffe will be held on Wednesday, September 20, at 3:00 p.m. in the chapel of Thomas Funeral Home. Dr. Bert Vaughn will officiate, and Michael Fleming will share a eulogy written by her daughter-in-law. Music will be provided by Betty Holland. Private interment will follow in the Hopewell Cemetery in Oakman. The family will receive visitors at the funeral home on Tuesday from 6-8 p.m. In addition to flowers, contributions may be made to the Morning Pointe Foundation, Gideons International, or the American Cancer Society. Thomas Funeral Home has charge of arrangements for the services of Mary Gertrude Leatherwood Ratcliffe.