MARY “SUSIE” RATLIFF RIFE, age 84, of Grundy, Virginia, went to her Heavenly Home on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, at the Johnston Memorial Hospital, Abingdon, Virginia, surrounded by her loving family.
Susie was born on November 26, 1941, in Buchanan County, Grundy, Virginia. She was the daughter of the late Joe Clell Ratliff and Anna Mae Snead Ratliff.
Susie was a member of the Little Prater Church of Christ and a lifelong member of Buchanan County. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She was a retired teacher’s aide and substitute teacher for the Buchanan County Public School System. She attended college at Lees-McRae College, Banner Elk, North Carolina. Susie also enjoyed working and spending time at the Poplar Gap Park, where she helped develop and acquire equipment, and serve her community.
In addition to her parents, Susie was preceded in death by her daughter, Katrina Rife, and brothers, Randall Ratliff and Donald Ratliff.
Those left to cherish her loving memory include her husband, Roger Rife of Grundy, Virginia; son, Greg Rife (Debbie) of Grundy, Virginia; granddaughter, Christy Jones (John) of Knoxville, Tennessee; great-granddaughter, Joee Jones of Knoxville, Tennessee; and special friends, Ruby Perkins of Grundy, Virginia, and Joe Gary and Lanette Street of Vansant, Virginia.
There will be a service for Mary “Susie” Ratliff Rife on Saturday, July 18, 2026, 7:00 P.M. at the Virginia Funeral Home Chapel, Grundy, Virginia, with Ken Runyon, Mike Rife, and Dennis Wimmer. officiating. The family will receive friends at 6:00 P.M.
A funeral service was conducted on Sunday, July 19, 2026, 1:00 P.M. at the Virginia Funeral Home Chapel, Grundy, Virginia.
Burial followed at the Greenhills Memory Gardens, Claypool Hill, Virginia.
Serving as active pallbearers were Mark Cooper, Robert Sauer, Trey Adkins, Buddy Fuller, John Jones, David Rowe, Cap Smith, Benjie Looney, and Donald Rife.
Honorary pallbearers were the Buchanan County Board of Supervisors, Kermit Rowe, Craig Horn, Marcus Creekmore, Louis Jackson, and Kenny Ratliff.
The Virginia Funeral Home of Grundy, Virginia, is honored to serve the family of Mary “Susie” Ratliff Rife.
