Jody Edward Ratliff

Jody Edward Ratliff stepped into the arms of Jesus on Thursday, April 18, 2024. Jody asked Jesus to save him and live in his heart one spring day in 1979 as he and his mother were watching a Christian television program. He was five years old. This started 45 years of witnessing to others how God can change lives. Jody was known for his generosity and kindness to others. Jody would sometimes give part of his lunch to someone else that looked hungry or a coat to someone who was cold. He liked to keep open Bibles around so people visiting him could ask him about God.  Jody was always eager to share how he had asked Jesus to take over his life and save him.

Jody was born on May 9, 1974, in Farmington, NM to Charlotte and Tom Herman. Charlottes marriage to Tom didn’t last and when Jody was seven months old, Charlotte met a young man names Paul Ratliff as she was selling life insurance. Paul fell in love with Jody before he fell in love with Charlotte and when Jody was a year-old Paul married Charlotte and wasted little time adopting Jody because he wanted Jody to be his son legally.

God gave Jody a unique artistic talent. Jody could draw anything and many time drew just from his imagination.

Jody had a great compassion for others especially disabled people and much of his life was spent working for agencies that took care of people who needed around the clock care.

Jody had a great sense of humor and had the ability to make people laugh. Many people have commented on how he just made them laugh which lifted them up when they were having a bad day.

We will miss, indeed already miss, Jody’s quick wit, laughing, teasing, joking and astounding ideas that he insisted be accepted and acknowledged. He was such a ray of sunshine. But we are glad that he is no longer in pain and now finally at peace.

Jody leaves behind his parents, Paul and Charlotte Ratliff, his brother, Dana Ratliff (Diana), two beautiful children; daughter, Cypress Ranee Ratliff whom he shared with his dear friend Terri Broussard, and a son, Jediah Knight Ratliff whom he shared with his dear friend Valtina Begay. Jody also leaves behind aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.

Welcoming Jody in Heaven are his maternal grandparents, N.J. and Gladys Lanham and paternal grandparents, Clovis and Doris Ratliff.

A memorial service will be announced at a later date.