Ramona Gray Blanton

Ramona Gray Blanton Ramona Gray Blanton, 74, died Tuesday, November 24, 2009 at Hillcrest Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Fitchburg, Massachusetts after a lengthy illness. Ramona will be especially remembered for her bright smile, friendly personality and giving heart. She was born Ramona Gray Brooks, on November 5, 1935, in Halifax County, North Carolina, to the late Lee Culley, Sr. and Blanche Brooks. She attended Hobgood Elementary School and graduated from Brawley High School. In 1957, Ramona graduated with her Bachelor of Science in Biology from North Carolina Central University, formerly known as North Carolina College at Durham. In 1958, Ramona married Thomas H. Blanton, Sr. and moved to Mount Vernon, New York. They remained married for several years and had three children, Alethea, Alison and Thomas, Jr. (deceased). Ramona joined the New York City Department of Social Services, Bureau of Child Welfare and began a career as a social worker and abuse investigator that would last 27 years, until her retirement in 1993. In 1993, she returned to her childhood home of Hobgood, North Carolina where she lived until becoming ill in 2006. Ramona was active in the church and community activities throughout her life. From 1980-1993, she was a member of Macedonia Baptist Church in Mount Vernon, New York, serving as a choir member and member of the floral club. She served in a number of roles at Long's Chapel Missionary Baptist Church in Hobgood, North Carolina from 1995-2005, including choir member, youth worker, church secretary and conference hostess. Ramona loved to sing, and was a member of the Hobgood Gospel Choir for a number of years. She served several years with the Hobgood Town Council and the CADA board in Halifax County, and received numerous awards for community service, including a certificate of appreciation for outstanding service on the Board of Directors of the Hobgood Citizen Group in 2007. That same year, she was inducted into the Society of Golden Eagles at North Carolina Central University. Ramona is survived by her daughter, Alethea Gray and her husband Basil Morris and grandchildren Carlton, Amari and Tyshawn in Lunenburg, Massachusetts; by her daughter Alison Joy and grandchild Thomas in Mount Vernon, New York; by her granddaughter, Shalya and great-grandchildren, Teeshani, Alizah, Teenickia, Kiyah and Shaliyah in Greenville, North Carolina; three brothers, Clement in Tampa, Florida, Lee Culley, Jr. in Speed, North Carolina and Gregory in Yonkers, New York and one sister, Daisy Mae, in Baltimore, Maryland. She also leaves a host of aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews and friends. She was predeceased by her son Thomas, Jr. and brothers James, Collis and Blossom. Funeral services for Ramona G. Blanton will be held on Saturday, December 5 at 11:00 am at Long's Chapel Missionary Baptist Church at 304 North Beech Street, Hobgood, North Carolina. Relatives and friends are invited to a wake on Friday, December 4 from 7:00pm to 8:00 pm at Mutts-Willoughby Funeral Home at 708 Main Street, Scotland Neck, North Carolina. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Alethea Morris Ministries located at 11 Mays Field Road, Lunenburg, Massachusetts, 01462. We would like to thank our friends and family for their help and support.