Faye was born, June 14, 1937, to Mancel Victor Hopkins and Pauline Stidham Hopkins in Hanceville, Alabama. Her Mother, Pauline, died the day after Faye was born. Faye was subsequently raised and adopted by her Grandparents, John and Minnie Dooley Hopkins of Cold Springs, Alabama. She often spoke of the love she had in her childhood home along with learning the value of hard work in the cotton fields and in farming from an early age.
Faye was a Hanceville High School Cheerleader and Graduate of the class of 1955. In the same year she married, Grady Joe Ratliff Sr. of Warrior, Alabama.
Vocationally, Faye did secretarial and administrative assistant work for Southern Bell, private family trusts, as well as the Georgia State Patrol. Many of those years she enjoyed a hobby as an Extra’s Casting Assistant and was an Extra herself in many films when the filming industry began to rise in Georgia in the late 1970’s and early 80’s. Her greatest legacy, perhaps, was of a very devoted wife and Mother. Her kitchen always had the aroma of fresh made cornbread and iced tea and she always prayed for her children to live for Jesus.
Faye was preceded in death by her Mother, Pauline Stidham Hopkins, Father, Mancel Victor Hopkins, her “Daddy”, John Hopkins, “Mama”, Minnie Dooley Hopkins and their children who were her six Brothers. Also by a half-Brother, Sonny Hopkins, and half-Sister Iris Wanda Hopkins. She was preceded in death most recently by her Husband of 58 years, Grady Ratliff, Sr and is sure to be celebrating a grand reunion in Heaven!
She leaves behind her siblings, half-Brother Mancel “Vic” Hopkins, and half-Sister Betty Hopkins Daniel. And is also survived by her children, Grady Joe Ratliff Jr., Scott (Jessica) Ratliff, Diana (Paul) Pinaud, and her grandchildren, Scott Ratliff Jr., Dillen Victoria Elaine Pinaud, Jacqui (Attila) Pinaud Lukacs, Emily (Cody) Pinaud Skaggs, and Matthew Pinaud as well as many Great Grandchildren.
The Funeral will be held at Hanceville Funeral Home, October 15, 2024. Visitation will begin at 1:00PM CST and Service will begin at 3:00PM CST. Final resting place will be Hopewell Cemetery in Hanceville, AL.