Anita Ratchford

AIKEN - Margaret Anita Farris Ratchford, 80, of Aiken died peacefully on Thursday, February 16, 2017.  Anita was born on June 24, 1936, in Gastonia, NC to the late Willifred Marion Farris and Martha Howe Farris.  A graduate of Gastonia High School and Meredith College in Raleigh, NC, Anita married, moved to Aiken, and began teaching high school in 1958. She taught in the Aiken County school district for 25 years, primarily at Aiken High School, until her retirement in 1994. Anita joined First Presbyterian Church 1958 and served the church by teaching Sunday School, directing and teaching Vacation Bible School, attending circles, working on committees, participating in sewing and knitting projects, and maintaining the sanctuary pew racks. She was recently elected to be a Deacon and had begun her training program.  Anita also volunteered at Hitchcock Healthcare and was a docent at the Aiken County Historical Museum. Anita stayed active by regularly attending water aerobics classes where she thoroughly enjoyed the friendships she made through that activity. She was a devoted sports fan, with her favorite teams being the Atlanta Braves, Duke Blue Devils, Clemson Tigers, and all teams associated with one of her children or grandchildren. Anita was a loving child, wife, mother, grandmother, and friend.  As the strong matriarch of the Ratchford family, she was very active in the lives of her children and grandchildren. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband Dan Jenkins Ratchford and her daughter Carol Ratchford Asbill.  Anita is survived by her daughter Dana Thrash and her husband David of Charlotte, NC, and her son Andy Ratchford and his wife Kelly of Moraga, CA, grandsons Reid Noah of Cincinnati, OH, Andrew Thrash and his wife Laurel of Arlington, VA, JD Ratchford of Berkeley, CA, Mark Noah of Orlando, FL, Patrick Ratchford of San Luis Obispo, CA, Phillip Thrash of Clemson, SC, and granddaughters Laura Thrash of Charlotte, NC and Sarah Ratchford of Moraga, CA. She is also survived by Chris Asbill of Lakeland, FL and Bill Noah of Lakeland, FL. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 AM on Monday, February 20, 2017 at First Presbyterian Church, Aiken, SC, with the Reverend Dr. Brian Coulter and the Reverend Holly Shoaf-O’Kula officiating. A reception will follow the service in the Fellowship Hall. In lieu of flowers the family requests that memorial gifts be made to the Memorial Fund of First Presbyterian Church, 224 Barnwell Ave., Aiken, SC 29801, or the charity of your choice. SHELLHOUSE FUNERAL HOME, INC., 924 HAYNE AVE., AIKEN, SCAnita's online guestbook may be signed at www.shellhousefuneralhome.com To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Anita Ratchford, please visit our flower store.