03/27/2026
With heavy hearts and deep gratitude, we share the news of the passing of Janice J. Ratliff, a beloved former staff member whose life and work shaped the heart of Elon University for more than three decades. A native of Elon, Janice served the university with insight, affection, and unwavering dedication for 35 years, leaving an enduring legacy of care, mentorship, and service.
Janice joined Elon in 1981 and devoted more than 35 years of service across multiple areas of Student Life. In every role she held, Janice brought compassion, professionalism and a listening ear—providing essential support to faculty and staff while offering reassurance and comfort to students and their families, often far from home.
With her ever-present smile and gentle strength, Janice was a trusted mentor and role model, particularly for Black students and first-generation students. At a time when there were few Black staff members on campus, she became a vital and visible source of encouragement, belonging and advocacy. She served as a devoted adviser to the Black Cultural Society (now the Black Student Union), the Gospel Choir, and Elon’s Finest, and she was an indispensable presence at the Phillips-Perry Black Excellence Awards Celebration, serving on its awards committee and faithfully supporting the annual event. Her commitment also extended to more than a decade of service to the Student Government Association, further reflecting her belief in empowering students and helping them thrive.
In 1999, she received the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award, followed by recognition as Professional Hourly Staff Member of the Year in 2006. In 2010, the Elon Black Alumni Network honored her for her dedication to the success of Black students. Student organizations further ensured her legacy by naming two awards in her honor: the Black Student Union Janice Ratliff Community Service Award and the Student Government Association’s Janice J. Ratliff Award for Organization Volunteer of the Year.
Janice retired in 2016 and in 2017 she received the Elon Medallion, the university’s highest honor. One of the most profound tributes to Janice’s impact came with the naming of the Janice Ratliff Building in 2021, making her the first Black staff member in Elon’s history to have a campus building named in her honor.
Janice Ratliff was a transformative presence at Elon. She embodied a mentorship mentality, poured into others with authenticity, and empowered generations to become their best selves. Her legacy lives on in every student she uplifted, every life she touched, and every space she made more whole.
We extend our deepest condolences to her family, loved ones, and all who were blessed to know her.
Services will be held on the Elon University campus in the Alumni Gym in the Koury Center on Saturday, March 28, 2026.
