Jean C. Blanton

Jean C. Blanton, age 87, of Surrency passed away in the company of her children on Saturday, August 6, 2022 following an extended illness.

Jean was born April 30, 1935 to the late Girvis Knight and the late Ethleen O’Brien Knight, and was raised in Appling County. She graduated valedictorian from Surrency High School, where she met her beloved husband of 67 years, the late Rev. J. E. Blanton. Their ministry together through the years took them from Nashville, TN to Jesup, GA to Decatur, GA and finally back home to Surrency, where they retired.

Jean excelled in her role as a devoted pastor’s wife but also had an outstanding career as an ICU/CCU nurse for 26 years. She headed the unit and was promoted to a supervisory position over the entire hospital due to her unsurpassed leadership and professional skills at DeKalb Regional Hospital.

Throughout her life, she was known as the consummate nurturer; Jean always put others before herself. She was a beautiful, elegant, lady who was warm, gracious, humorous, and you were always welcome at her home where you would be offered something sweet to eat. She loved to cook, garden, and sing. But her favorite activity was spending time with her family and friends. Jean’s life verse was Romans 8:28, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to his purposes.”

Survivors include her daughter, Deborah Blanton of Ponte Vedra Beach, FL; son & daughter-in-law, Steve & Shannon Blanton of Spartanburg, SC; sister, Dorothy Snead of Jacksonville, FL; sisters-in-law, Kathleen Overstreet of Surrency and Naomi McQuaig of Alma; brother-in-law & sister-in-law, Jerry & Linda Blanton of Surrency; and grandchildren, Daniel Miltenberger of Jacksonville, FL, Chloe Miltenberger of Tampa, FL, and Colt Blanton of Spartanburg, SC. Several nieces and nephews also survive.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday, August 10, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. at Mt Vernon Baptist Church with Rev. Justin McLellan & Rev. Rick Brown officiating. Eulogies will be rendered by Deborah Blanton and Daniel Miltenberger.  Interment will follow in Memorial Free Will Baptist Church Cemetery.

Active pallbearers will be Daniel Miltenberger, Colt Blanton, David Snead, Jim McQuaig, Donnie Head, & Thomas Dubberly.

Visitation will be held one hour prior to the funeral service at the church.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions to a church or a charity that’s doing God’s work.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Swain Funeral Home.