Helen Grayden Smith Ratliff entered eternal life on November 23, 2016. She was 91, a resident of Lebanon, VA, and a loving mother and grandmother.

Her life began March 2, 1925, when she was born in Trammel, VA, to Georgia Hughes Smith and Everette Grayden Smith. She graduated from Yukon Graded School in West Virginia in 1937 before the family moved to Big Rock, VA. Helen attended Grundy High School, where she met Arthur Ratliff. She graduated in 1942, and they were married in 1943 in Pikeville, KY. They made their home in Grundy and had two daughters.

Helen completed requirements for a diploma in Secretarial Science at the Jefferson School of Commerce in 1958. She was member of the Grundy Church of Christ and the Grundy Woman’s Club. She was a member of the Florence Ann Chapter #133 of the Eastern Star, serving at one time as Organist while her mother was Worthy Matron. For a time, she lived in Bristol, TN, before finally moving to Lebanon.

Helen was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Everette Grayden Smith, II.

Helen’s spirit is carried on by daughters, Cathy Gibson of Abingdon and Kim Bowman of Lebanon; grandchildren: Anne Bowman of Greensboro, NC; Rebecca Gibson-Wilkins (Luke) of Charlottesville, VA; Shor Bowman (Lera) of New York, NY; Grayden Shapiro (Zach) of Raleigh, NC; and great grandchildren, Ruby Wilkins and Julian Bowman. She is also survived by a nephew, Everette Grayden Smith III of Burlington, KY, and her life-long best friend, Jessie Hunt of Grundy.

The family would like to express their gratitude to the staff of Commonwealth Assisted Living at Claypool Hill, VA, for their loving care and attention to Mrs. Ratliff in her last years.

There will be a private service in Clintwood, VA, where Helen will be laid to rest along-side her mother and father in Phipps Memorial Cemetery. Owens Funeral Service is in charge of arrangements.

Instead of flowers, everyone who wishes to honor Helen’s memory is asked to give a gift of love to Saint Jude Children’s Research Hospital in her name:

Memorial and Honor Gifts

P.O. Box 1000, Dept. 142

Memphis, TN 38148