Samuel (Sam) Eli Ratchford died peacefully Sunday, July 18, 2010, his family at his bedside. He was born in Gaston County, North Carolina on September 1, 1826, son of the late Jasper E. Ratchford, and Ida Clemmer Ratchford. At Wingate Junior College/High School in Wingate, North Carolina, he took both high school and college courses, and received a full college basketball scholarship to play at the school. After graduation from Wingate, Sam attended the University of North Carolina and then Georgia Tech, participating briefly in the Navy V-5 program. He graduated from the University of Georgia with a BBA in 1952, and earned his LLB from the Atlanta Law School in 1959. In 1956, he married nurse Redetha (Deedy) Ann Wilson, who preceded him in death in 2001. He was president of the 15-person firm Insurance Investigating and Adjusting, Inc, from 1973 to 1999, as well as risk manager and adjuster there for 25 years. Major clients included Hertz and Delta Airlines. Living in Atlanta since 1952, Sam enjoyed golf, strength training, running and fine wine. A fitness devotee and jovial person who loved people, he “worked out” almost daily. He was a member of Chi Phi Social Fraternity; Sigma Delta Kappa Legal Fraternity; Oak Grove United Methodist Church, Atlanta, Georgia; the Decatur-DeKalb YMCA, Decatur, Georgia; and Big Canoe Golf Club, Big Canoe, Georgia, where he enjoyed a second home. While at UGA, he was a Boy Scout leader, giving back to the organization what he had received as a scout earlier in North Carolina. He also was a member of UGA’s track team. Sam was a long-time supporter of the Atlanta Symphony, the Decatur-DeKalb YMCA, Salvation Army, and Atlanta Union Mission. Sam is survived by two sisters; Mary Brown Robinson and Christine Clemmer of Gastonia, North Carolina; two children: Stephen Ratchford of Norcross, Georgia, and Teresa (Terri) Parker of Sylvania, Georgia; daughter-in-law Jane Ratchford, and son-in-law, Hobson Parker; three grandchildren, Brooke Hacker of Sylvania, GA, Alex and Lauren Ratchford of Norcross, GA; three step-grandchildren; Hollis and Del Parker of Sylvania, GA., and Karen Emery of Duluth, GA.; and one step-great grandchild, Max Green of Duluth, GA. A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, July 31, 2010 at 2:00 p.m. at Oak Grove United Methodist Church, 1722 Oak Grove Rd., Decatur, GA. 30033, church phone (404) 636-7558. Family members will receive friends starting at 12:30 p.m. in the church parlor before the service. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to be made to Sam’s requested charities; Oak Grove United Methodist Church and Atlanta Union Mission.
