Doralene Boswell

Obituary For Doralene Boswell

You were called away suddenly

Without a last goodbye

Only God in His loving Mercy

Know the reason why!

Doralene Ratliff Boswell “Dora” went home to be with the Lord on July 27, 2026 at Riverside Regional Medical Center, Newport News, Virginia.

Doralene was born in Boydton, Virginia on April 23, 1959 to the late Deacon Cleveland Ratliff, Sr and Rebecca Duncan Ratliff.

She attended and graduated from Bluestone High School in Skipwith, Virginia.

She was a member and choir member of Saint Paul Baptist Church at an early age in Boydton, Virginia.

God gave Doralene a gift to sing starting at the age of 11 years old. She enjoyed singing and leading songs in the choir. One of her favorite songs that she loved to sing and so did everyone else was, “You Don’t Know How I Feel.” She had a beautiful soprano voice and people loved to hear her sing.

Doralene also enjoyed dancing and being with her family and friends.

Doralene was preceded in death by her oldest sister, Laura Bell; brothers, Brandy and Cleveland, Jr.

She leaves not to mourn but to cherish her memories to her children; son, Barry K. Johnson, Jr.; daughter, Cherylene Johnson; her precious five grandchildren, Layla,Kahlil, Deion, Kalani, Legend; her mother, Rebecca Duncan Ratliff of Boydton, Virginia; one sister, Roxanne Booker (Reverend Charles); one brother, Emmette Ratliff; a host of nieces, nephews, loving cousins and friends.

A visitation will be held on Sunday, August 2, 2026 from 10:30 until time of service at 1:00PM. Service will be held at St. Paul Baptist Church, Boydton, Virginia. Reverend Brenda Hutcheson will deliver the eulogy.
Interment will be held at the St. Paul Baptist Church Cemetery located on Highway 58 West.

There will be a Respass held in the St. Paul Baptist Church Fellowship Hall.

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