Kenneth Poe Funeral Services

January 22, 2016

Beth Rayburn, 56, died peacefully at home in her sleep on January 22, 2016, surrounded by the love of her husband and children. Her death followed a nearly five year battle with breast cancer. Beth was born in Charlotte on January 15, 1960, daughter of Joseph (Joe) Starke Ratcliffe and Nancy Davis Ratcliffe. In 1978 she graduated from Charlotte Catholic High School, attended Appalachian State University and graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1982. She had a successful career as a sales manager for two sewing pattern companies prior to her marriage to Jimmy Rayburn and the raising of their family. Beth was very involved in her children's educations, staying active in the PTA's at Myers Park Traditional, AG Middle School and Myers Park High School, where she served as PTA President during the 2009-10 school year. In 2005, through strong will and determination, Beth founded the boy's lacrosse program at AG Middle School. Five years later, the core players from that first AG team helped lead Myers Park to the North Carolina state high school championship in lacrosse. Beth was also active at Christ Episcopal Church as a Sunday school teacher and member of the Altar Guild. Quite an athlete in her own right, Beth amazed family and friends alike with her ability to walk on her hands and ride a unicycle. She loved tennis and was part of the Myers Park Country Club tennis program for many years. Gardening was another of Beth's passions. She had a green thumb, turning her back yard into a beautiful landscape of plants and flowers every spring and summer. Beth's best attribute was that she truly cared about others. She loved her large, extended family, and she truly loved her neighbor as herself. Her list of good friends and good deeds for those friends would run several pages long. Their dedication and care allowed her to live fully to the end. In addition to her husband and parents, Beth is survived by her children, Joe and Rachel Rayburn, both of Charlotte; four siblings, Starke Ratcliffe and his wife, Anne of Charlotte, Johnny Ratcliffe and his wife, Janneke of Durham, NC, Cathy Carleton and her husband, Dick of Breckenridge, CO and Robert Ratcliffe and his wife, Marianne of Chapel Hill, NC. Beth is also survived by several uncles, aunts and cousins. She was particularly close to the family of her mother's twin sister, Mary Lou Babb and her husband Jim and cousins, Laura Grace, Julie Babb, Patty Babb, Jimmy Babb and Nancy Falls; and many beloved nieces and nephews. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, January 29, 2016 at Christ Church, 1412 Providence Road, Charlotte, 28207. The family will receive friends at the church following the service. The interment will be private. The family would like to offer special thanks to Dr. James Boyd and the staff at Oncology Specialists of Charlotte and Dr. Scott McGinnis and the staff at Southeast Radiation Oncology Group for their great care and support of Beth over the past five years. The family would also like to thank Bella More for her caregiving and companionship to Beth. Memorials may be sent to the Novant Health Foundation, Presbyterian Medical Center, 200 Hawthorne Lane, Charlotte, NC 28204 NovantHealth.org/foundation. Please designate for Breast Cancer Research.

Arrangements are in the care of Kenneth Poe Funeral & Cremation Services, 1321 Berkeley Ave Charlotte NC 28204. Phone: 704 641-7606