JESSE JAMES BLALOCK

JESSE J. "JIMMY" BLALOCK, longtime resident of the Whiteville area and member of a family long active in the agricultural community of Hardeman and Fayette Counties, died at 9:50 A.M. Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at the Jackson-Madison County General Hospital where he had been a patient for one week. He was 73 years of age and died following a brief illness.

Funeral services for Mr. Blalock were conducted at 2 P.M. Saturday, July 26th at the Whiteville First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Larry Finger, Pastor of the Church, officiating. He was assisted by Rev. David Reeves, Pastor of the Midway Baptist Church near Whiteville. Special remarks were provided by Mr. Blalock's nephew, Glenn Stephenson of Birmingham, Alabama. Interment followed in the Smyrna Cemetery near Whiteville. Arrangements were provided by Peebles Fayette County Funeral Homes-Main Chapel of Somerville.

Mr. Blalock was born on May 2, 1935, in the Fayette Corners Community, the son of Aubrey William "Dutch" Blalock and May Lou Ledbetter Blalock, early residents of the Whiteville area who were land owners, farmers and cotton ginners for many years. He was educated in the Whiteville area Public School System and was a lifelong resident of Hardeman and Fayette Counties.

Mr. Blalock was a member of the Whiteville First United Methodist Church, loved music and was avid collector of watches and handkerchiefs in earlier years. Known by many as a "people person", he had a great love for animals that included his beloved pets; cat "Frisky" and dog, "Boomer".  As long as health permitted, Mr. Blalock was a familiar figure in the Whiteville area visiting with his friends and taking part in community activities.

Survivors of Mr. Blalock include his sister, Frances Blalock of Whiteville; two nieces, Cathy Edwards and Judy Parks (Ricky), both of the Fayette Corners Community; his nephew, Glenn Stephenson of Birmingham, Alabama and a number of great and great-great nieces and nephews.

Mr. Blalock will be remembered as one of the original participants of the Hardeman County Developmental Services Center and was a resident of the center's group home at Bolivar in recent years. In addition to his family, he leaves behind his special friends, David Higgs and Jimmy Shearin, who resided with him.

Those honored to serve as casketbearers were Darnell Anderson, Bill Brewer, Robert Campbell, Jack Carter, Don Heisey and Jimmy Joe Mitchell.

Honorary casketbearers were Ollie Bean, Deana Blackwell, Earl Bowers, Christy Chochran, Roosevelt Cheairs, Jack Green, Lora Jenkins, David Johnson, Craig Rivers, Diane Stewart, Greg Vaughn, Frank Wilhite, Jerry Wilhite and Don Young.

The family request that Memorials be directed to the Smyrna Cemetery Association, 203 Oak Street, Whiteville, TN 38075.