Fred W. Ratliff, Jr., age 89, of Ridgeland, MS, passed away on February 29, 2016. The family will receive friends at the Wright and Ferguson Funeral Home in Clinton, MS, from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. on Monday, March 7, 2016. A graveside service will follow the visitation at Clinton Cemetery in Clinton, MS with Dr. Charles Scrivener of Morrison Heights Baptist Church officiating.

Fred was born on November 2, 1926, in Jackson, Mississippi to Frederick W. Ratliff, Sr. and Gussie McKean Ratliff of Clinton, Mississippi where his father co-owned Ratliff Motor Company, a Chevrolet dealership. As an only child, Fred formed close relationships with several classmates growing up and enjoyed various sports such as football, basketball, and track. Additionally, since his father was in the automobile business, he enjoyed borrowing his mother's car once he was allowed to drive. He attended Clinton Public Schools until his senior year in high school at which time he enrolled in Columbia Military Academy located in Columbia, Tennessee. Upon graduation from Columbia, he attended Mississippi College located in Clinton to pursue a career in business. After completing one year of college in 1945, he enlisted in the Army during World War II. His military occupational specialist field was as a Postal Clerk stationed in Korea. During his military career he received various decorations and citations: Army of Occupation Medal, Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal, and World War II Victory Medal. Fred was honorably discharged from the Army on December 25, 1946 and returned to Mississippi College to continue his Business Degree. He graduated from college in 1949 with a B.S. Degree in Business and a minor in Social Studies and English.

During his college years, he dated and eventually married Martha Louvenia Chadwick of Jackson on November 15, 1947. During their 33 years of marriage, they had three children together: Bill and twins Bobbie and Fred. In 1949, he became the Sales Manager at Ratliff Motor Company which spanned for two decades. The Chevrolet Dealership was sold in 1966 and became Blackwell Chevrolet in Jackson where Fred worked for a year or so as a salesman. Eventually, he opened an independent car sales and body shop in Clinton. Ratliff Motor Company was dissolved in 1986.

After dissolving Ratliff Motor Company, Fred married Martha Jolly and resided in Jackson with Martha and his two step-daughters, Samara and Serenthea. He worked as a real estate agent and also sold insurance for approximately the next three years before retiring from the work-force.

Over the years, his hobbies and interests included water skiing and boating in the Mississippi River at Vicksburg and at the Jackson Reservoir. He also enjoyed keeping up with all makes and models of automobiles as well as participating in the Stock Market on a daily basis.

Survivors include three children: Bill Ratliff of Virginia Beach, Virginia, Fred Ratliff and wife Diane of Brandon, Mississippi, and Bobbie Ratliff Dudley of Duncan, Oklahoma; three grandchildren: Rachel Anne McKean of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, David Dudley of Houston, Texas, and Daniel Dudley of Houston, Texas; two stepchildren: Samara Traylor and husband Devy of Vestavia Hills, Alabama, and Serenthea Ryals of Jackson, Mississippi; four step-grandchildren: Christy Childress and husband Cody of Madison, Mississippi, Jon Waggoner and wife Amy of Madison, Mississippi, John Traylor of Vestavia, Alabama, and Thomas Traylor of Vestavia Hills, Alabama; three step great-grandchildren: Ty Childress of Madison, Mississippi, Bowen Childress of Madison, Mississippi, and Daisy Waggoner of Madison, Mississippi.