A Beautiful Flower in God's Garden

God Planted a Seed

On a Friday, February 2, 1962, at 7:28 pm in Danville, Virginia, a beautiful baby girl was gifted to this world. Her proud parents, Thomas Lee and Mary Ellen named her Rosalind Evora Ratliffe.

Watering the Seed

Rosalind gained her education in the city schools of Pittsylvania County. She graduated with the class of 1980 from Tunstall High School. As she began to bloom into a young adult, she entered National Business College, receiving her associate's degree in business.

Nourishing the Seed

Rosalind had a strong Christian upbringing and professed her faith in Christ at the age of 10 at Mount Carmel Missionary Baptist Church located in the Lucktown Community at 700 Halifax Road, where she served and worshiped God. Her love for the word of God remained constant throughout her life.

Shining Light on the Seed

Rosalind met Darrell Lamont McLeod in 1984 outside the Navy Recruiting Office in Danville. Completely smitten by Rosalind, Darrell continued to seek out her attention. He vividly remembers the car she drove and her license plate that read "Rozie." Rosalind joined into a holy union with Darrell on May 25, 1985. From this union, Rosalind blessed the world with two sons. Darrell Lamont McLeod Jr. made his grand entrance into the world in 1986, and Demetrius Terrell McLeod joyfully blessed us with his presence in 1989. Rosalind was very proud of the two lives she created. She was the biggest cheerleader in their lives in every aspect. Her final goal was to ensure that her sons both had love and stability in their lives with women that would adore and cherish them just as she always has once she closed her eyes. Her mission was accomplished.

Letting the Budding Flower Bloom

She moved to Pennsylvania and was a Christian servant at First Baptist Church of Crestmont. In Pennsylvania, she began her career at Citi Group in the technology department. Her job with Citi relocated her and the family to Fort Worth, Texas, where she united with Covenant Church of Colleyville under the guidance of Pastor Rickey and Cya Texanda. She and her husband faithfully worked the marriage ministry called ReNew. (Its Marriage, God's Way).

Releasing Old Petals before the New Bloom

Rosalind spent her last months surrounded by loving family and friends. Her every craving for cheesecake and other sweets was satisfied. Laughter and beautiful memories that we will all cherish were created. Her courageous strength and endurance were evident throughout these days. We have all been encouraged by Rosalind's strength and perseverance. With her hand being held and her hair being stroked, the sounds of the song "Let Go and Let God" played as Rosalind's last earthly breath and drifted into the garden above. At 8:25 am, Sunday, August 7, 2022, at 60 years young, God's Garden gained a flower.

The Greatest Bloom

Rosalind was greeted in the Heavenly Garden by her loving father, Thomas Lee Ratliffe, September 1, 2004, 64 years; her grandfather, Harry Still, September 23, 2004, 84 years; her special brother (Cousin) Danny Ratliffe, August 17, 2016, 55 years and her grandmother, Mary Louise Clayton July 10, 2018, 95 years.

Flowers, She leaves in this Earthly Garden of Love

Rosalind leaves to celebrate her legacy and cherish her memories: her husband of 37 years Darrell Lamont McLeod Sr. of Keller, Texas; her dear and loving mother, Mary Ratliffe of Danville, Virginia; her adoring sons: Darrell Lamont McLeod Jr. (Lakisha' Key') of Grand Prairie, Texas, Demetrius Terrell McLeod (Veronica) of Ft. Worth Texas; one loving sister Jacqueline (Ratliffe) McHorne (Basil) of Montgomery Alabama; special sister-cousin Dana (Phillip) Ratliffe-Walker of Keysville Virginia; bonus daughter Appolonia Wilborn of Virginia: two sisters-in-law: Kimberly Oliver of Virginia and Detra Clark of Chesterfield Pennsylvania; four nephews: Jaden, Basil II, Makhi, and Alexander; grandchildren: Jayveon, Anthony, Kyla, Kishon, Kameryn; three aunts: Delores R. Pounds, Marion Sutherland, and Carrie Lee Haymes and a host of loving cousins, relatives, and friends.

Our Flower is Now in Full Bloom

Gone from us her smiling face, the cheerful, pleasant ways, and the heart that won so many friends in bygone, happy days. A life made beautiful by kind deeds and a helping hand for others' needs. To a beautiful life comes a happy end; she died as she lived, everyone's friend.
~The Family~