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Joseph (Joe) Alton Ratcliffe, aged 77 passed away Sunday, February 28, 2021 after a valiant fight against COVID.
Joe was a graduate of Needham Broughton High School and attended East Carolina University. He proudly served in the National Guard for six years.
Joe worked as a sales rep for Ormand Wholesale Company, in Greenville, North Carolina and Coastal Wholesale Company in Kinston, North Carolina. He was always a top salesman and a customer advocate. As a member of the Greenville Jaycee’s, Joe was co-chairman for the first Greenville 4th of July Celebration on the Town Commons.
He was an avid sportsman. He loved to play baseball, known as an outstanding pitcher. His love for tennis was fanatically passionate. Joe was a devoted CrossFit member and supporter. He was known as “Joey Legend.” He did CrossFit from September 3rd 2013 until the end of 2019, all the time staying fit after a stroke. When new perspective members came to CrossFit, he was always helpful to sell them on the benefits of the CrossFit Community.
He loved his family and friends. Joe loved life and people and he loved to talk with anyone who would listen. He reached out to anyone he met, especially to witness for Christ. Joe also served as a hospice volunteer through Vidant Medical Center. It was a joy to him to help others. He was always trying to trip us up with his “woofers” (lies).
Joe was preceded in death by his parents William Emmett and Mary Moore Ratcliffe and his best friend and sister, Annette Haithcock and her husband John. He leaves behind his beloved wife, Lona Presser Ratcliffe, his brother Bill (Patricia) of Gibsonville, NC, two daughters, Robin R. Atkins (Chris) of Winston-Salem, NC, and Melissa (Missy) R. Burrell of Raleigh, NC. He leaves behind his grandchildren Meredith and Will Atkins, Madyson (Mady) and Andrew Burrell. Sister-in-law’s Holly P. Brickhouse (Gene) of Bloomington, Illinois, and Judi Frizzelle (WH) of Greenville. Nephews and nieces Leanna R. Jones, Kevin and Brandon Ratcliffe, Lynn H. Beverly, and Marilee H. Star, Chris Presser, Jessica P. Whisner, Shay and Kelly Dixon, Emily Lee Becher, Gina Mandros, and Michael Joseph Brickhouse.
Joe will always be remembered as a faithful husband to the love of his wife “Lona Baby.” He was incredibly proud of his two daughters Robin and Missy and often would ask people if they believed in miracles because God gave him two beautiful girls. His love for his grandchildren never ceased. He considered himself a very blessed man. For those of you that knew Joe knew he never met a stranger, and he would always crack jokes. He would always say, “If you need me, I’ll call you.”
A private service for the family was held on Wednesday, March 3, 2021. A Celebration of Life for Joe will be held in the spring at the Ratcliffe home for friends and family. The date has not yet been determined.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to CrossFit of Greenville. If writing a check, please write “Joey Legend Fund” on the memo line and mail it to 818 Clark Street Greenville, NC 27834 or donations can be made to the East Carolina College of Nursing Dean Evelyn Perry Proffessorship Endowment. Send memorial checks to E. Maxwell ECU MHSF 2200 South Charles Blvd. MS659 Greenville, NC 27858. Please put Evelyn Perry PROF. on the memo line. https://www.wilkersonfuneralhome.com/obituaries/Joseph-Joe-Alton-Ratcliffe?obId=20164324#/obituaryInfo
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Charles Styron
Joe and I were good friends during the years when we played Little League and Pony League Baseball together--up through about age 14. There were summer nights when he and Tommy Snotherly and others (including me) would play a block-sized game of hide and seek in what is now Roanoke Park in front of his house. At times we would race for 50--75 yards across the grass to beat each other to home base. I still reflect on those Halcyon Days every now and then. At one of our reunions in the 1980's (or thereabouts), I walked up to Joe and said, "You hit two home runs off me in a single game, you son-of-a-bitch," and he responded without missing a beat, "And you hit the longest ball off me that anyone ever hit!" I remember all three swats like it was yesterday. Hail Joe Radcliffe, the great lefty.