Debra Day Ratcliffe

Debra "Debbie or Deb" Jean Day Ratcliffe, age 71, was welcomed home into the arms of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on January 16, 2026. What a joyful celebration it must have been—reunited at last with her beloved momma, JoAnn Collins Day, and the many family members who went before her.

Debbie was born on June 27, 1954, on the banks of Big Stony Creek in Giles County, Virginia as steady, beautiful, and grounding as the life she would go on to live. She was the cherished daughter of the late JoAnn Collins Day and Willard Eugene Day and was raised in a family where service, hard work, and community were simply a way of life.

From a young age, Debbie learned a strong work ethic and the value of caring for others while working behind the counter at her family's business, Day's Grocery in Giles County. Whether greeting neighbors, lending a helping hand, or sharing a smile, she embodied the heart of small-town kindness. True to her roots, Debbie never missed a good opening day of deer season or the excitement of spring trout stocking. While she never had much luck with bingo cards or lottery tickets, those who knew her best knew she had perfect aim when it came to life, especially as a sharpshooter in her younger days, and she hit the mark every time with her family, building a life rich in love and laughter.

A proud graduate of Giles High School, Class of 1972, Debbie began the greatest chapter of her life when she married Garland Eugene Ratcliffe, the love of her life, on June 15, 1973. Together, they shared over 52 years of marriage, building a life grounded in devotion, laughter, sacrifice, and unwavering partnership. As their family grew, Salem, Virginia became home, the place where Debbie poured her heart into raising her girls and creating a space where everyone felt welcome and loved. Later, after retirement, she and Garland made their home in Zephyrhills, Florida, though her heart never strayed far from her roots.

Debbie often said that her biggest accomplishment and proudest rote was being a stay-at-home mom and she wore that title with pride every single day. Even after "retirement," she never truly left the job, stepping happily into her new role as her grandchildren's full-time babysitter, after-school caretaker, favored travel buddy, and chief fun officer. Her home was always alive with laughter, snacks, snuggles, and adventures, proving that the very best work in life is done with your heart and a house full of family.

Debbie was a proud sports mom, cheering on not only her own daughters and grandchildren but on everyone else's children. Home was where you could always find her girls' friends gathered in the living room or around the kitchen table, laughing, eating, and being loved. She opened her home freely, providing after-school meals, late-night snacks, and a listening ear. If you were hungry, tired, or needed a safe place to land, Debbie made sure you were cared for.

Her life was marked by service and heart. She poured herself into others as a Girl Scout troop leader and devoted Cookie Mom, Junior League of the Roanoke Valley, cheer coach, PTA President, PTSO President, After-Prom Committee Chair, Fort Lewis Baptist Church preschool teacher and director, and later as an administrative assistant at Glenvar High School. She filled these roles with patience, kindness, and deep love for children and families. Yet, of all her accomplishments, Debbie was most proud of being a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother -- these titles she cherished above all others. Creative, thoughtful, and endlessly giving, Debbie expressed her love in these ways, too. She sewed her children's and grandchildren's clothing, made the best Halloween costumes, sewed quilts for her grandchildren, and found and made the craftiest gifts for friends and loved ones. She best expressed her love from the kitchen. She was the heartbeat of every holiday - famous for scratch-made red velvet cakes on Valentine's Day for the love of her life, pumpkin logs at Thanksgiving, applesauce cake for Christmas, fudge, peanut butter balls, homemade glass candy, and countless other candies and sweet treats. Her recipes were rarely written down but always remembered (sometimes), because they tasted like home. If you walked into her kitchen, you were fed body and soul. Dad would always tease that there was enough for an army, but every meal at her table left you with a full belly and a happy heart.

To her grandchildren, she was simply the best MaMa. She was the babysitter everyone wanted, the late-night ramen and buttered noodle cooker, the treat giver, boo-boo kisser, story reader, personal cheerleader, confidant, and always-present sports MaMa. She loved snuggling the babies, taking them on trips, going for long walks and hunting for rocks, wildflowers and wildlife, and hosting sleepovers at her house where the sky was truly the limit. Where her grandchildren were concerned, there were no rules—only love. She loved them 'to the moon and back'.

Debbie is survived by her loving husband, Garland Eugene Ratcliffe; her daughters, Crystal (Brad) Melton and Kimberly Key; and her six grandchildren: EmiLeigh JoAnn Smith, Garland Matthew Smith, Wyatt Eugene Key, Bralen Everett Melton, Liam Ratcliffe Key, and Chase Scott Melton.

She is also survived by her siblings and extended family: Marvin "Buddy" (Toni, Bill) Collins, Cathy (Greg, Leslie and Lindsey) Boyer, and Mike (Susan and Joey) Day; her mother-in-law Mary Lee Moye; brothers- and sisters-in-law Connie (Danny) Burton, Ron (Ericka) Ratcliffe, and Linda (Rich) Piasio; along with many beloved aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, and dear friends who were family in every way.

Debbie will be remembered for her kind heart, her infectious laugh, her listening ear, and a home that was always full of love and life. She had a special way of making everyone feet welcome, cared for, and cherished. Her greatest treasures were never something to be won, but something to be loved- being surrounded by family and friends and gathering memories the way one gathers seashells by the sea, each one beautiful and full of meaning. Her generosity, joy, and love weren't measured in prizes or accolades, but in the countless lives she touched and the happiness she spread wherever she went.

To Garland, Debbie was far more than a wife she is his other half, his steady partner, and the perfect complement to his life for over 52 years. Together, they shared every duty and every joy, balancing one another in the quiet, ordinary moments that make a marriage extraordinary. They were morning and night, up and down, left and right each filling in where the other began. They could finish one another's thoughts, sentences, and even prayers, moving through life in a rhythm built on love, patience, and deep understanding. Whether traveling side by side or simply sitting together at home, Debbie's familiar words, "Now Garland...", were always spoken with affection and wisdom. Though her voice has grown quiet, the bond they shared remains unbroken, forever woven into his heart.

A celebration of Debbie's life will be held in both Florida and Virginia, bringing family and friends together to share stories, laughter, and a few smiles that Debbie herself would have insisted on. In Florida, we will gather on February 21, 2026, from 2:00-4:00 PM at the Clubhouse at Majestic Oaks in Zephyrhills. A second celebration will take place in Virginia on February 28, 2026, at 11:00 AM at Kendall Funeral Home in Pembroke, VA followed by additional time for laughter, storytelling, and favorite memories—just the way Debbie would have wanted—with the location to be shared. 

The family warmly welcomes the sharing of pictures, stories, and memories—never shying away from telling her story and the legacy she leaves behind. It is in those shared moments, both heartwarming and funny, that joy, comfort, and peace will be found, and where Debbie's love will continue to live on. 

In lieu of flowers, the family invites you to honor Debbie in ways she would have loved—by supporting St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, or by doing something kind, joyful, and a little bit fun in her memory. Paint a rock and leave it for someone to find, pick wildflowers, dance in the rain or splash in puddles, take a Long walk on the beach or in the woods, hug a child a little tighter, read a good book, play a round of Bingo, or take a trip with the love of your Life. Above all, don't put off today what can bring love, laughter, or connection— because Debbie believed the best moments in life were meant to be lived fully and shared often. 

"Thanks for the adventure—now go have a new one!" -Ellie Fredricksen, Up (2009)