Mr. Neil Wilkins Ratchford

-Guyton, Ga - He will be remembered by many as 'the sausage man' and rightfully so. In this new year, Guyton says its good-bye to Neil Wilkins Ratchford. He passed away January 10th , 2016. Born on November 1, 1928, Neil grew up and lived his life in Guyton. He continued the tradition of making hot meat sausage that had been in the family since 1898 and stayed involved in its making until 1999 when he passed the business onto his son-in-law, Scott Hinson. In retirement, he was able to enjoy his love of tending cows and small vegetable crops with the help of his friend, BF Arnsdorff. Seeing Neil arrive with a basket of Silver Queen made many an Effingham resident happy. Throughout his life, Neil was very community and family minded. As a member of Guyton Methodist, he attended many committee meetings but believed the best committee meetings were those with '3 members and 2 are absent'. He loved being involved with the 5th Sunday Morning breakfast hosted by Guyton Methodist. He and his friend, Lawton M. Nease, spearheaded the gatherings for 50 years, and they continue today. He was a man of few words, but he would make them count - even if they stung a bit. No matter what his family or friends faced, he'd often quip, "It will all work out." Another one of his sayings was "Pneumonia is an old person's best friend". In the end, that is what allowed him to join his wife, Mary Olive. He was the baby brother of four siblings. Two surviving sisters, Mary Ratchford Davis and Kathryn Kirtland, are in their 90s and continue to live independently. Before his brother, Robert, passed away, the two reconnected and enjoyed much time together. Many of Neil's nieces and nephews still make the trek to Guyton to visit their farm loving uncle. He and Mary Olive had four children. Neil Wilkins, Jr. drowned at the tender age of six. Warren, Joseph (Mona) and Sue Nell live and work locally. Neil's grandchildren, Ryan and John, attend UGA. Their parents are Mona and Joseph. The family would like to thank a few special friends who made his recent life more enjoyable: B.F. Arnsdorff, Yvonne Falagan, Scott Hinson, the Hunters of Guyton, Donna Morris, Georgia Parrish, Alan Watson, and Guyton Methodist members. Riggs Funeral Home is handling the arrangements. Visitation will be 5:30 - 7:30 on Thursday, Jan. 14th. The funeral service will be Friday, the 15th, at Guyton Methodist 11 a.m. with a graveside service at Guyton cemetery to follow. Memorials may be sent to Guyton Methodist's Beulah Fund. i�½i�½ Riggs Funeral Home Guyton, Georgia

Service:

Friday, January 15, 2016

11 a.m.i�½i�½

Guyton United Methodist Church



Visitation:

Thursday, January 14, 2016

5:30 - 7:30 p.m.i�½i�½

Riggs Funeral Home