Mary Frances Blalock

Mary Frances Blalock, longtime resident of Whiteville and a person well-known for many years in the agricultural and business activities of her community, departed this life Sunday morning, April 13, 2014 at the Pine Meadows Healthcare Center in Bolivar where she had resided for three weeks. She was 87 years of age and died following an extended illness.

Services of Remembrance for Mrs. Blalock were conducted at 1 P.M. Wednesday, April 16th at the Peebles Main Funeral Chapel in Somerville with Bro. David Reeves, pastor of the Midway Baptist Church in Whiteville, officiating. Interment followed in the Blalock Family Plot of the Smyrna Cemetery near Whiteville. Arrangements were provided by Peebles Fayette County Funeral Homes and Cremation Center — Main Chapel of Somerville.

Mrs. Blalock was born September 6, 1926 in the Fayette Corner Community near Whiteville. She was preceded in death by her parents, Aubrey William “Dutch” Blalock and Mary Lou Ledbetter Blalock, early residents of the Whiteville area. She received her education in the Hardeman County Public School System and was a graduate of the Whiteville High School and the Memphis School of Commerce.

Mrs. Blalock was associated with her family for many years in the operation of the Blalock Farms and Blalock Cotton Gin in Whiteville. She was a family-oriented person and will be remembered for the loving care that she gave to her brother, Jesse J. “Jimmy” Blalock, before his death on July 23, 2008. In earlier years, Mrs. Blalock was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star Chapter in Whiteville.

Mrs. Blalock was a lifelong resident of the Whiteville area and maintained her family home before moving to the Sugar Creek Retirement Center in Brownsville.  She remained in Brownsville until the SomerOak Retirement Center in Somerville was completed and was a resident of SomerOak until her recent illness. She took much pride in her appearance and enjoyed traveling and activities with her family. She was a Christian throughout her life and was a Methodist for many years before recently joining the Midway Baptist Church near the family farm.

Mrs. Blalock is survived by two daughters, Cathy Edwards and Judy Parks, both of Fayette Corner Community near Whiteville; her son, Glenn Stephenson (Brenda) of Birmingham, AL; nine grandchildren and twelve great grandchildren.

Those honored to serve as casketbearers were Andy Parks, Tony Pittman, Timothy Pittman, Jerry Walker, Dennis Smith, Brandon Smith and Troy Campbell.

Honorary casketbearers were Robert Campbell, Steve Parks and Ron Stallings.

The family requests that memorials be directed to the Smyrna Cemetery Association, 426 Stevens Road, Bolivar, TN 38008.