Howard D. Blalock

The Rev. Howard D. Blalock, 90, of Oakwood passed away Friday, Oct. 16, 2009, at the Bell Minor Nursing Home following an extended illness.
Funeral services will be held Sunday, Oct. 18, 2009, at 2 p.m. from the chapel of Memorial Park Funeral Home with the Rev. Scott Waters and the Rev. Edmund Harris officiating. Interment will follow in Memorial Park Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17, 2009.
The Rev. Blalock was born Sept. 22, 1919, in New Holland to the late Francis Marion and Sarah Louise Dyer Blalock. The Rev. Blalock was saved at New Holland Baptist Church on May 20, 1932, and baptized in May 1932. Howard was called to ministry in 1939 and ordained Aug. 17, 1941, by the New Holland Baptist Church by the Rev. H.G. Jarrard, Pastor. The Rev. Blalock was married to Annie Eugenia Odum of Macon on June 4, 1944-Jan. 4, 1971.
Mr. Blalock attended the New Holland Grammar School from 1925-1932, Air Line High School ( now East Hall ) 1932-1937. He worked two years in the New Holland Mill 1937-1939. He attended Young Harris College, where he received his A.A. degree 1939-1941, Mercer University, where he received his A.B. degree 1941-1943, Andover Newton Theoligical School in Boston, Mass., where he received his M.Div. degree 1943-1946. The Rev. Blalock was the pastor of First Baptist Church in Gordan from 1946-1949, pastor of First Baptist Church in Blackshear from 1949-1953, pastor of Emmanuel Baptist Church in Blackshear from 1953-1957, pastor of Chicopee Batist Church in Chicopee from 1957-1966, director of the Juvenile Rehabilitation, Chattahoochee Baptist Association in Gainesville from 1964-1966, pastor of Level Grove Baptist Church in Cornelia from 1966-1968, appointed associate missionary by the North American Baptist Mission board of Atlanta from 1969-1981, pastor of Dewberry No. 1 Baptist Church in Gainesville from 1968-1970, director of Youth and Family Services at Chattahoochee Baptist Association in Gainesville from 1968-1970, Missionary Associate of North American Baptist Home Mission Board, Director of Weekday Activites, Chattahoochee Baptist Assoc. from 1970-1981, treasurer for Victory Baptist Church in Gainesville from 1972-1998, special assigned missionary for North American Baptist Home Mission Board from 1981-, Interim pastor of Mountain View Baptist Church from 1981-1983, pastor suburban Mobile Home Park Chapel from 1984-1985, pastor of Union Baptist Church from 1987-1996, and supply pastor from 1997-present.
Survivors include his son and daughter-in-law, Dennis and Sandra Blalock of Chestnut Mountain; daughter, Sarah Ellen Blalock Roberts of Oakwood; granddaughters, Valerie Lynn Blalock Smith (Brad) of Loganville, Tracie Sewell Palmour (James II) of Gainesville, Erin Sewell Hornor (Jason) of Gainesville and Amy Blalock Perkins (Derek) of Buford; five great-grandchildren, Callie and Jessie Perkins, Haley Smith, Kate Hornor and Anna Bella Palmour; niece and husband, Patra and Lamar Elder; and nephew, Jordan Dorsey. The Rev. Blalock is preceded in death by four sisters and two brothers.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Victory Baptist Church Building Fund, 1745 Skelton Road, Gainesville,
GA 30504.
Memorial Park Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.