George L Blackledge, Sr.

On May 24, 2011 George Lewis Blackledge Sr of Heidelberg, Ms peacefully went to be with the Lord while closely attended by family loved ones who knew and loved him. He was preceded in death by his wife of sixty-one years Lenora Stamper Blackledge, his son George Lewis Blackledge Jr, his parents Monroe Lewis Blackledge and Nonnie Duckie Purvis Blackledge, his sisters Katie Bell Blackledge Lowery, Doris Blackledge Leggett and Dorothy Blackledge Bell. Mr. Blackledge is survived by his daughter Ava M Blackledge of Atlanta, Ga and daughter-in-law Marsha Staeling Blackledge of Biloxi Ms. Surviving grandchildren are Amber B. Watson/Chris Watson of Lucedale, Ms, Sara B. Odom of Biloxi Ms, George L. Blackledge III of Biloxi Ms, Peyton R. Knight/Ian Knight of Atlanta, Ga, Aaron A. Rhodes of Atlanta Ga/Heidelberg Ms, and Peter O. Rhodes of Atlanta Ga/Laurel Ms. His great grand children include, Cody Watson, Haley Watson, Holly Watson, Jake Watson, Garrett Watson, Audrey Watson and Eve Knight. Mr Blackledge served his country in the Army Air Corps and in the Navy on the USS Guadalcanal during World War II. After his honorable discharges from the service he met and married Lenora Irene Stamper of Heidelberg, Ms July 2, 1949. They had two children George Lewis Blackledge Jr and Ava Marleece Blackledge. Mr Blackledge in his early work career worked as a member of a crew for oil companies, and also as a pipefitter at Ingalls Ship Building in Pascagoula Ms. In his later work career, he worked along with his wife, thirty plus years as owner of a successful rental business in Biloxi Ms. During which time he made many friends and acquaintances. While living in Biloxi, Mr and Mrs Blackledge were active members of Temple Baptist church in Biloxi and Windsor Park Baptist Church in Ocean Springs Ms. After moving back to Heidelberg Ms in 1988, Mr and Mrs Blackledge attended church at Pine Grove Baptist Church and Shady Grove Baptist Church, both in Heidelberg. Mr Blackledge also attended First Baptist Church of Heidelberg. Mr Blackledge enjoyed gardening and was active with playing the fiddle with long time friends at Rose Hill Ms. He will be warmly be remembered by his friends and loving family as a king, gentle, giving, jovial, Christian man who took exceptional care of his family. He will be painfully missed but will live on in the hearts of his loved ones by the love he projected and the sweet memories he provided as the best Papa and Daddy ever. Services are set for Saturday May 28, 2011 at First Baptist Church Heidelberg, 612 Walnut St Heidelberg MS 39439. Viewing will start at 11:30 AM. The service will start at 1 PM and will be led by long time friend and pastor, Reverend Bill Bolton. Directly after the service, Mr Blackledge will be laid to rest beside his wife and son, at Pine Grove Baptist Church cemetery, where there will also be a brief service. Funeral arrangements are being made by Memory Chapel of Laurel, Ms.

George L Blackledge, Sr.

December 22, 1926 - May 24, 2011