Sonya (Sally) Joy Blankenship Strawn

Sonya “Sally” Joy Blankenship Strawn passed away at her home at the age of 59 years old on March 19, 2024. She is survived by a very special brother, Branden Williams (Pattie), DeWayne Williams (Mary); sisters, Debbie Miller (Bobby) and Melanie Clark (Dwight); a very special nephew, Evan “ET” Williams; many more nieces and nephews; her special pets, (Ruby, Thunder, Ed, Sancho, Little Bit, Sweety, BJ, Shorty, Tyson and Punkin) and special friends dear to her heart, Diane, Vickie, Tabitha, Breanna, Mary.

She is preceded in death by her father, Michael Blankenship and mother, Joyce Strawn Williams Delk; grandparent’s, Taylor Tucker Strawn and Mary B. Goff Strawn and Ed and Gracie Blankenship; and stepfather, Billy D. Williams.

She first worked at Napa Parts Store and as a volunteer firefighter in Scotts Hill, TN. Then decided to go into a career as a firefighter in Jackson, TN. She was the first woman to get hired on as a firefighter in 1993. She worked hard to become the first woman to be promoted to rank of driver in 2001. She didn’t stop there, she went on to become Lieutenant in 2009 and the first woman to be promoted Captain in Jackson, TN in 2011. Also, in her spare time became Fire Chief in Saltillo, TN.

As a Captain of the City of Jackson Fire Department she put in 25 years of service. On March 9, 2018, she retired as Captain for the City of Jackson.

Visitation with the family will be on Thursday, March 21, 2024, from 4:00-8:00 PM and again on Friday, March 22, 2024, from 10:00-2:00 PM at the Saltillo Community Center.

Funeral Services will be held on Friday, March 22, 2024, at 2 PM at the Saltillo Community Center. Burial will follow in the Corinth Cemetery, Decatur County.