Nellie G. Blake

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Our beloved Nellie Grace Council was born March 29, 1929, in Pinkard, Alabama, to the union of R.W. and Robbie Mae Council. She was one of thirteen children. In 1944, the Council family relocated to Enterprise, Alabama.
Nellie accepted Christ at an early age and was baptized at Pleasant Shade Baptist Church. Nellie received her early education at Coffee County Training School. She often credited her late brother, Alex Reese, who sacrificed to make sure that his sisters got their education. Shortly after graduating from high school, Nellie relocated to the Florida Gulf Coast, where her uncle lived. In the 1960s. Nellie later moved to Brooklyn, where Alex lived. In Brooklyn, Nellie worked as a domestic for a family on Long Island. Nellie was a member of Brown Memorial Baptist Church and lived in the same building as the Godmother of Soul, Patti LaBelle and the Blue Belles.
Nellie relocated to Rochester in the late 1960s after her siblings and parents relocated from Alabama. She was a fantastic cook who was known for her dinner parties with lavish table settings and her famous 4-layer chocolate, German chocolate, pineapple, and coconut cakes. A lifelong learner and passionate about her craft, Nellie enrolled in culinary classes at Manpower Inc. During this time, she would meet James Walter Blake, Jr. For thirty-four years, they lived and loved one another as husband and wife, souls, parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, nurturing and counseling their family until God called James home on March 17, 2003.
Nellie was employed as a house manager to the Futerman family until retiring in the early 2000s. Eli, Peggy, and their children, Josh and Aviva, were very dear to her, taking great pride in nurturing them into adulthood.
Nellie was a member of the Antioch Missionary Baptist Church under the pastorate of the late Rev. W.F. Cotton, where she remained for over 40 years. She was known for her extensive hat collection with matching gloves. Nellie, the ever-supportive big sister, founded the Fantastic Bright Clouds Fan Club, hosting elaborate dinners at her home in honor of her brothers' anniversary celebrations.
In 2006, she moved her membership to the Emmanuel Missionary Baptist Church under the pastorate of Reverend Dr. Douglas Smith, Sr. Nellie was especially proud to provide the cake for Pastor and Mrs. Smith's anniversary dinners at the church for decades prior. At the time of her passing, she worshipped with the River of Life Community Church, where her nephew Bishop Stephon P. Donaldson is the founding Senior Pastor.
On Saturday, July 26th, 2025, Mrs. Nellie Grace Council Blake exchanged a long life of 96 years for life everlasting at St. Ann's Nursing Home. She is predeceased by her husband, James Walter Blake; parents, R.W. and Robbie Mae Council; brothers: Walter Clarence, James Leon, Tommy Junior, Louie Frank, Alex Reese, Joseph Eugene Council, and her sister, Grace Evelyn Smith. Nellie is also predeceased by her sons, Felton Coley, Joe Blake, and Henry M. Blake.
Nellie Grace leaves to cherish fond memories five sons: Johnnie (Charlene) Coley; Lenzy (Phillis) Blake, and Tyrone (Thea) Blake of Rochester, New York; Jerome (Barbara) Blake of Fayetteville, North Carolina and James Walter Blake, III of Florida; five daughters Australia Blake and Rosemary Blake, Christine Singleton of Rochester, New York, Elise Blake of Winter Park, Florida and Juanita Mongen of Altamonte Springs, Florida; sixty-nine grandchildren, numerous great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren; one sister Robbie Sue Hedman; one brother Willie James (Annie Doris) Council of Rochester, New York; one brother-in-law Rev. James O. Smith, three sisters-in-law Clara Blake of Dunn, North Carolina and Kathy Council and Doris Council of Rochester, New York. Nellie wishes to acknowledge her caregivers, her nephew Mark Council and nieces Regina Robinson Doyle and Nakia Taylor. She also leaves behind a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.