Obituary

Clemontine Marie Brown Ratliff

March 17, 1935 - December 23, 2020

Clemontine Marie Brown Ratliff, also known as “Clemmie” was born March 17, 1935 to proud parents Anderson and Rosie Lee Brown Sr. in Bogalusa, Louisiana.

The Brown children grew up next door to Harry’s Chapel Methodist Church, where the family was involved in all church activities. The Browns began singing at an early age. Children took music lessons and sang in the choir. When the doors of the church opened to welcome worshippers, the Brown children were in attendance at the behest of their mother.

Clemmie was a devoted daughter in the loving and caring Brown family. She was the third child, “Clem,” in a family of ten; seven girls and three boys. Six of the Brown children, Nadine (Puttin), Marjorie (Bunch), Alvin (Sonny), Marcell (Mot), Anderson Jr. (Tank), Brenda, Amanda (Mandy) and her parents preceded her in death. Clemmie was quiet and spoke very little as a child, but was always studious and highly motivated. She loved to read and write poetry and narrative pieces. Clemmie graduated from Central Memorial High School with honors and left for Southern University and graduated with her Bachelor degree in Education after three years. After graduating, Clemmie went back to Southern University and worked one semester but decided to work in Madison Parish as a teacher for two years. During the summer break, Clemmie received a fellowship grant to attend Pepperdine University in Los Angeles, California. After the summer, she returned to Madison Parish, but learned that the Superintendent of schools would not give black teachers contracts, she voiced her opinion and decided to return to Los Angeles and resume her studies at Pepperdine University. One of her professors encouraged her to pursue employment in Los Angeles and Clemmie decided to resign from her job in Louisiana, with her parent’s blessings, and was hired by the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) as a teacher and Reading Lab Coordinator at Thomas Edison Middle School. In addition, Clemmie earned her Master’s Degree in Education, a Special Education Lifetime Credential and a Pupil Personnel Credential from Pepperdine University, University of Southern California, and Cal State University, Long Beach. She worked as a California State Reading Program Coordinator for one year. After that experience, she continued at Thomas Edison Middle School as an English teacher, then served as a school guidance counselor for the 15 years in completion of 32 years of service in LAUSD. She was recognized and honored through the years for her dedication and positive attitude towards the students she served. Clemmie was a role model and and a tremendous influence in the lives of young people and she earned the respect of her co-workers at Edison Middle School.

After she settled in California, Clemmie joined church at Grant A.M. E. Los Angeles, where she was a dutiful and faithful servant. She joined the adult choir in the alto section and loved singing praises to the Lord and she also joined the D.L.W. Chorale. She was a loyal member of the Willie B. Webster Missionary Society and the AGAPE Missionary Unit. The Lord called Clemontine Marie Brown Ratliff home the morning of December 23, 2020.

Clemmie leaves to remember her one sister, Cleta Lee of Rochester, New York and one brother, Calvin Brown of Bogalusa, Louisiana, an adopted sister, Wanda Marshall of Los Angeles, CA, the love of her life and only child, Jessica Ratliff of Gardena, CA, and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. 

“Well done, thou good and faithful servant… Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord” Matthew 25:21

There will be a drive through viewing Monday, January 11, 2021 from 2:00PM- 6:00PM at Crain and Sons Funeral Home – Bogalusa.

A graveside service on Tuesday, January 12, 2021 at 11:00AM at Duffy Cemetery. 

Crain and Sons Funeral Home are in charge of arrangements.