George Ratliff Jr.

GEORGE RATLIFF JR., son of the late George W. Ratliff Sr. and the late Doris Sadie Swann, passed away at Maryland General Hospital during the morning of October 31, 2011, as a result of complications from a long illness. Mr. Ratliff, a lifelong native of Baltimore, Maryland was born on August 12, 1950. He received his formal education in the Baltimore City Public School System. He was a retired railroad employee having served the Conrail Railroad from June 7, 1972 until he was declared disabled on December 12, 1986. George Jr. was an excellent musician. During the sixties he had his own band, the Fingertips. His other hobbies included collective movies, videos, video games, video game systems, pictures, books and music. He enjoyed these activities but his love was for people. He was a member of New Shiloh Baptist Church for fifteen years. He was until in marriage to Lori Renee McCallum on November 23, 1995. George raised seventeen foster children and was a mentor to his nieces, nephews and the neighborhood children. He was preceded in death by four brothers, Charles Johnson Jr., Ronald Lamont Taylor, Robert Swann Jr. and William Swann. He leaves to cherish his memory: his loving wife, Lori Renee Ratliff; nine children, Tracy Smith, Michael Ratliff, George Ratliff III, Ricky Ratliff, Wanda Ratliff Dunston, Joseph Ratliff, Che’ Grady, Lamar McCallum all of Baltimore, Maryland and Niticia Ratliff from Vallejo, California; four brothers, James and Percy Swann of Bamberg, South Carolina, Joseph Swann of Baltimore, Maryland and Limos Lawrence of Atlanta, Georgia; four sisters, Pearl Mason of Durham, North Carolina, Arleen Gladden, Darleen Jones and Christa Phillips of Baltimore, Maryland; one son-in-law, William Dunston; one daughter-in-law, Janine Harris; sixteen grandchildren, Nakira Cox, Sean Evans Jr., Aurikshawna Ratliff, Raykiya Ratliff, Lanika Hines, Ricky Ratliff Jr., Jordan Ratliff, George Ratliff IV, Justin Ratliff, Tynesha Taylor, Deaundray Taylor and Lathan Diggs II; one great-grandchild, Sincere Wyatt; his devoted family-in-laws, include mothers, Ethel Larkins and Rita Hardy; fathers, John Larkins and Sherman Hardy; sisters and brothers, Michael Larkins, Ayesha Larkins, Eugene Hardy II, Diane Bazemore, Lois Hardy, Bernadette Simmons, Kenneth Simmons, Richard Hardy, Virginia Hardy, Catherine Hardy, Brenda Holloman, Deon Holloman, Gwendolyn Johnson, Wayne Johnson Sr., Donald Hardy, Marilyn Hardy, Yvette Washington, Rodney Washington, Ronald Phillips, Sally Swann, Michael Jones and Donald Gladden; and a host of other relatives, nieces, nephews and close friends.

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George Ratliff Jr.

August 12, 1950 - October 31, 2011