Henry Wallace Blizzard, Jr

The Honorable Henry Wallace Blizzard, Jr. passed away peacefully on April 10, 2026, surrounded by loved ones.

Henry Wallace Blizzard, Jr. was born on January 13, 1940, in Columbus, Georgia, to Theda (née Holder) and Henry Wallace Blizzard. He was first known as Wallace or “Sonny” and later as Henry. After graduating from Columbus High School, he enrolled in Auburn University with a scholarship from the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps. While enrolled at Auburn, he was a member of Phi Kappa Tau social fraternity, Omicron Delta Kappa honor society, and the Auburn University Marching Band. He was awarded a Bachelor of Arts in History. Upon graduation, he served as a Lieutenant Junior Grade in the U.S. Navy, and later in the Naval Reserves, which he felt was a great honor and responsibility. His education and military service sparked an interest in travel and politics and informed his world view. After he completed his service, he was honorably discharged and attended Florida State University where he was awarded a Master of Administration. He then enrolled in the University of Alabama School of Law and was awarded a Juris Doctor. In Tuscaloosa, he met his future wife, Lelia Bourdin, who was a graduate teaching assistant at the University of Alabama. They married and moved to Athens, Alabama, where he practiced law and was a member of the Chamber of Commerce and Jaycees. In 1978, he was appointed as the first circuit judge for the 39th Judicial Circuit in Limestone County, Alabama, a position he held for 18 years. As a judge, he sought to promote fairness in criminal sentencing throughout the state by serving on the Alabama Sentencing Commission. Judge Blizzard held officer positions in the Alabama Circuit Judges Association and taught at judicial colleges across the country.

Henry raised his family in Athens, Alabama. He loved history and enjoyed taking his family on adventures near and far. With each trip, he reveled in preparation so that his children could appreciate the historical context of each trip. In his spare time, he enjoyed reading, gardening, playing the piano and listening to jazz, and following Auburn sports. He devoted considerable time as a leader of several Boy Scout Troops and a member of the Athens Public Library board. Henry was a spiritual person, consistently involved with his church, including many years at St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Athens, Alabama, and later at St. James Episcopal Church in Sewanee, Tennessee, where he and Lelia became members. After he and Lelia retired to Monteagle, Tennessee, he volunteered with the Mountain Goat Trail Alliance, the Monteagle Visitor’s Center for the Tennessee State Parks Conservancy, and the Community Action Committee of St. Mark and St. Paul in Sewanee, Tennessee.

Henry was a devoted husband to his wife, father of five children, and “Papa” to nine grandchildren. He is survived by his children: Lee Phillips and husband Will (children Catherine and Wyatt) of Johnson City, Tennessee; Wallace Blizzard and wife Lawson (children Stella and Ava) of Mountain Brook, Alabama; Donna Sweigart and husband Mike (children Emma, Reed, and Claire) of Roswell, Georgia; Mary Gwen Murash and husband Barry (children Max and John) of Davidson, North Carolina; and Charles Blizzard of Athens, Alabama. He is also survived by his brother, Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.) Daniel Kirk Blizzard, and wife Olga, by his niece Katherine Blizzard, and his nephew Kirk Blizzard and wife Rei. He was preceded in death by his parents, several aunts, uncles, and cousins, and Lelia, his wife of 55 years.

A memorial service will take place at 1:00 p.m. (CDT) on May 8, 2026, at the Lake Clubhouse at Clifftops in Monteagle, Tennessee. Directions to the Lake Clubhouse will be available at the Clifftops Gate House, which is located at 700 Clifftops Avenue, Monteagle, Tennessee 37356. Please email [email protected] with any questions regarding the memorial service.

In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations to:
St. Jude Children’s Hospital
501 St. Jude Place
Memphis, TN 38105
www.stjude.org/donate