Charles Kenneth Blalock, 1929-2000

  Born August 18, 1929, in Macon, Georgia, Charles was the son of the late Floyd Eston Blalock Sr. and Nellie Harmon Blalock. After graduating from Etowah High School in Etowah, Tennessee, and the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, he went on to obtain a Master of Divinity from the Candler School of Theology at Emory University in Atlanta.

  He entered into his formal ministry in the Virginia Methodist Conference, with his first appointment beginning in 1955 at Lekies Church in Norfolk, Virginia. While there, he met the love of his life, Jessie Alford, a nurse at Norfolk General Hospital. Charles went on to serve many churches throughout the Virginia Conference as a faithful servant of the Lord, touching many lives in each congregation and community with his kindness, compassion and concern. He served the following churches throughout his ministry: Thalia; Tabernacle in Pungo; First at Fox Hill; Elkton; Epworth in Covington; Fairmount Park; Beulah in Richmond; Friendship; Dumfries; Graham Road; and retired at Wesley Memorial Church in Norfolk in 1995. After his retirement from full-time ministry, he kept an active part-time ministry at Epworth Church in Norfolk as visitation minister, which he loved. He also remained active by pursuing his passion for teaching. He taught both at Epworth and Virginia Beach United Methodist churches, revealing God’s word through the Disciple Bible Study series and many Sunday school lessons.

  In addition to his loving wife of 44 years, Charles will be deeply missed by other surviving family members and friends. These include his daughter, Susan Blalock Pearman, her husband, Steve, and daughter, Morgan, of Virginia Beach; son, Michael Blalock, his wife, Darcie, and sons, Kyle and Blake, of Herndon; son, Douglas Blalock of Virginia Beach; daughter, Nancy Bloebaum, her husband, Scott, and daughter, Elena, of Cary, N.C.; brother, Floyd Blalock Jr., and his wife, Dora, of Andrews, N.C.; sister, Helen Blalock of Etowah, Tenn.; and numerous nieces and nephews. His love of family was always evident in his love-filled sparkling blue eyes, playful antics and abiding affection.

  As a cancer survivor, Charles embraced every day as a gift from God to be lived to its fullest. He lived with eternal optimism and hope, affecting everyone who came in contact with him. He put his faith into practice daily, giving grace to all and setting a Christian example. He collapsed while teaching a lesson on the "Good Samaritan" at Virginia Beach United Methodist Church and passed away from this world to eternal joy and rest with God on December 11, 2000, after a brief illness that followed.

  Although, he will be greatly missed by a multitude of parishioners, friends and family, his spirit of love, compassion and grace will live on in those who were blessed by knowing him. His greatest hope would be that the love and mercy of Jesus Christ continue to be shared with all.

— The Blalock Family