Donald Jerry Blasingame

Donald Jerry Blasingame was born to William Monroe and Velma Reagan Blasingame on June 22, 1939 and died on August 5, 2025 in Starkville. His family moved to Leflore County near Sidon, Mississippi. From his humble beginnings, Don accomplished much. He attended Sidon Elementary and later Morgan City High School. After Morgan City consolidated with other Leflore County schools, he attended and graduated from Leflore County High School. He excelled in sports and was quarterback all four years and baseball pitcher all four years of high school. In August of 1959 he was drafted into the Army. He trained as an operating room technician and quickly rose to sergeant E-5 after being assigned to the 24th Infantry Medical Battalion in Augsburg, Germany. On December 30, 1959, while on leave he married his high school sweet heart, Carol Patricia Allison. He returned to the Army and Patricia stayed home to attend school. In August of 1960, Patricia joined Don in Germany where their only child, Miriam Carol was born on May 30, 1961. After completing military service, they returned to Morgan City. He began work with Staple Cotton Association and later worked in Greenwood Leflore Hospital as an inhalation therapist. In January of 1963, Don enrolled in Mississippi Delta Junior College. After graduation at MDJC they moved to Cleveland to attend Delta State. Don worked a full shift at Bolivar County Hospital. He received a BS in Biology and a minor in chemistry. Patricia received a BS in Education. Don and family moved to Starkville for Don to enroll in the Plant Pathology Department at Mississippi State while Patricia taught school in Columbus. After Don received his master's degree, they moved to Bryan, Texas where he received a National science Foundation Scholarship to attend Texas A & M University. In February of 1972 after Don received his PhD in Plant Pathology they moved to Starkville where he was hired by the MS Co-Operative Extension Service to work as a cotton specialist and Turfgrass Specialist. After working 20 plus years with the MS Cooperative Service he retired and he received the title of Professor Emeritus. He began work with the Southern Turfgrass Association as the Technical Director and with the Cotton Council in Memphis, TN where he was chairman of the Nematode Committees . Don received numerous awards from the Turfgrass Association for his promoting the Turfgrass Association and as editor of the newsletter. He received awards for his outstanding work with the MS Association of County Agents. But most of all, Don enjoyed his work for his Lord and Savior. He was ordained as a deacon in 1975. He served on the MS Baptist Convention Board for six years and was a certified deacon trainer for the MS Baptist Convention Board. Also, he served on the Southern Baptist Brotherhood Department. He first began teaching Sunday School to fifth grade boys at Central Baptist Church in Bryan, Texas. He progressed to college age and then senior adults. He was the Berean Sunday School teacher at First Baptist, Starkville until his eyes began to fail him. He was a member of the Agricultural Development Foundation through which he made many agriculture mission trips to witness and help people learn how to feed themselves. He went to Belize, Honduras, Brazil, Ukraine, China, Mongolia, and it was the Christians of Bangladesh that stole his heart where he and Patricia made three trips. He and Patricia accompanied youth on mission trips to Georgia and Kentucky. Missions were a high priority with Don. Don and Patricia traveled all over the world. Their last trip was a family trip to Antarctica during the Christmas holidays. Don knew God had richly blessed his family. A few days ago, he said to a friend "I have worshipped the Lord on this side and I am ready to worship the Lord in Heaven." Don had two brothers, one sister, his parents, his only daughter and son-in-law to precede him in death. Those left to cherish his memory are his wife of 66 years, Patricia; grandson, Don Walker; great granddaughter, Dixie Walker; great grandson Donald Walker, all of Starkville, MS; and his older brother, Norman of Little Rock, AR. There are two other special young people, Tiffany Holland of Saltillo, MS and Taylor Carrithers of Starkville, MS. There will be a Celebration of Life on Saturday, August 9, 2025 at 2:00 PM at Welch Funeral Home in Starkville, MS, however there will not be a visitation. Rev. Chip Stevens and Rev. Clifton Curtis will conduct the service. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Samaritan's Purse, PO Box 3000, Boone, NC 28607. "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." 2 Timothy 4: 7