REV. HERBERT JAMES RATLIFF, 85 years of age of Hurley, VA, went to be with the Lord, Tuesday, January 12, 2010 at the Buchanan General Hospital following an extended illness. Born in McDowell County, WV, he was the son of the late John William and Oklahoma Rowe Ratliff. He was a resident of Buchanan County most of his life and was a Member and served as pastor of the Hurley Church of God in Jesus Name for over 50-years. 

Mr. Ratliff served in the United States Army during World War II. He received his Expert Marksmanship Badge, Good Conduct Medal, European-African-Middle East Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal, Bronze Star and Purple Heart. He was a Life Member of the Childs Gentry Post No. 7360 of the Veterans of Foreign War and was a member of John Ratliff Post No. 164 of the American Legion. He was a devoted husband, loving father, grandfather, great-grandfather, was a disabled Coal Miner having worked for Kentland Elkhorn Coal Company and was a member of UMWA Local Union No. 17.

Mr. Ratliff was preceded in death by his wife, the love of his life: Della Virginia Shell Ratliff, October 29, 2008.

He is survived by 2-Daughters: Janice and husband Jerry Clevinger, Hurley, VA, Teresa Davis, Hurley, VA, 2-Sons: David Wayne Ratliff, Athens, OH, James Marshall and wife Vicki Ratliff, Culpepper, VA, 2-Sisters: Melda Sykes, Cincinnati, OH, Ollie Gertrude and husband Lesley Chaney, Dinwiddie, VA, 1-Brother: Paul Ratliff, Dinwiddie, VA

Also, survived by 4-Grandchildren: Jarrod Clevinger, Jeremy Clevinger, Jessica Shelton and Dena Smith, 3-Great-Grandchildren: Justin Clevinger, McKinley Smith, Gabriel Smith, Special Family Friend: James R. Sands and several Nieces and Nephews. 

He was preceded in death by 1-Daughter: Joyce Ilene Ratliff, 3-Sisters: Ruba Ratliff, Anna Marie Ratliff and Dixie Whitt, 2-Brothers: Jessie O. Ratliff and Roland Ratliff, and Step-Mother: Stella Rowe Ratliff.

Funeral Services for REV. HERBERT JAMES RATLIFF will be conducted Saturday, January 16, 2010 at 11:00 A.M. at the Hurley Church of God in Jesus Name, Hurley, VA, with Pastors Ray Sayers and Tommy Conn officiating with entombment to follow in Greenhills Memory Gardens, Claypool Hill, VA.

Friends may call at the Hurley Church of God in Jesus Name Friday afternoon at 5:00 P.M. with services at 7:00 P.M.

Active Pallbearers will be His Children and Larry M. Stacy, Darrell Stacy, Michael Darrrell Stacy, Jeremy Clevinger, Joe Shelton, Benny Smith, Bobby Helton, Teddy Hipps and Justin Clevinger.

Honorary Pallbearers will be Jarrod Clevinger, Tracy Potter, Linda Belcher, Dr. J.P. Sutherland Jr., and the Employees of Total Home Care & Hospice.  

Military Rites will be conducted at the cemetery by members of Childs Gentry Post No. 7360 of the Veterans of Foreign War.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.grundyfuneralhome.com

Grundy Funeral Home of Grundy is in charge of all arrangements.