John Payne Ratcliff III was born in Hattiesburg, Mississippi on July 19, 1978 to John and Phyliss Ratcliff

Visitation will be family only at Bethel Baptist Church in Monticello, MS on Saturday, November 12 from 12:00 PM until funeral services at 1:00 PM. Graveside services will follow at Sauls Valley Cemetery in Jayess, MS. Bro. Jimmy Smith and Bro. Philip Alford will officiate the services with Wilson Funeral Home in charge of the arrangements.

John excelled at sports and played baseball at Lawrence County High School and Brookhaven Academy. He graduated from Brookhaven Academy and attended Hinds Community College where he graduated with a Associate's degree.

He was married to Ashley Davis and from that union, came Maddie Ratcliff, their only child. John was so thrilled to be Maddie's father and only missed her softball games when he was away at work. John was a boilermaker by trade and traveled extensively in the United States. Just prior to his death, he bought Maddie a $500 softball bat. He wanted her to excel in softball and he was very proud of her. He loved her more than anything else in the world and only wanted for him and her to be happy. He enjoyed golfing, hunting and spending time with his Daddy and Grandpa Ratcliff. John believed in God and accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior when he was 6 years old.

He was proceeded in death by his maternal grandparents George Washington Mullins and Ladell Cox Mullins and by his paternal grandmother Helen Ratcliff.

He is survived by his daughter, Maddox Isabella Ratcliff of Monticello, and by his father, John P. Ratcliff of Monticello, his mother, Phyliss Dunaway of Jayess, and his grandfather John P. Ratcliff Sr. of Monticello.

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