Anne Davis Blankenship

Anne D. Blankenship, 88, of Dinwiddie departed this life on Wednesday, February 14, 2024. Born in Pearisburg, Virginia on August 21, 1935, she was the daughter of the late Daniel and Gladys Davis, and was also preceded in death by her beloved granddaughter, Elizabeth Hancock.

Anne moved to the Tri-city area in 1954 and never left. She was primarily a homemaker devoted to her husband, children, and her church. She was a substitute teacher, tutored students, including special needs children, and worked at Bellwood for a short period. 

When her husband became a minister in the Methodist Church in 1975, she devoted herself to all the duties of a minister's wife: visiting the sick, attending meetings, teaching Sunday school, feeding the poor and the many projects and missions of the church. She never considered it a job, but a great privilege to do the Lord's work. They worked together as a team for over 30 years. She was a longtime member of Ettrick United Methodist Church.

In her younger years she loved to sew and garden. In her later years, she became a devoted caregiver to her husband. Family time was always precious. She always had kind words of encouragement and prayers for those in need. Her faith was monumental, and she touched so many with her smile and hugs. She loved people and never met a stranger. She will be remembered as a loving mother, a doting grandmother, and a woman of God. Her memory will live on in our hearts and she will be deeply missed.

She is survived by her husband of 69 years, James H. Blankenship, Sr.; four children, James H. Blankenship Jr, Linda Orlando (Joe), Stuart Blankenship, Kelly Hancock; grandchildren, Anna Lisa Hancock, James Blankenship, Joseph Orlando (Christina), Zachary Orlando (Elizabeth), Michael Blankenship; 4 great-grandchildren; a brother, Russell Lee Davis (Gail); a daughter-in-law, Betsy Blankenship; a former son-in-law, Stanley Hancock; and many nieces and nephews. Many thanks to a close family friend, Kathy Hicks, for all the help, concern and kindness shown to our family. 

A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, February 23, 2024 at the Colonial Heights Chapel of E. Alvin Small Funeral Homes, 2033 Boulevard. The family will receive friends before the funeral on Friday from 9:30 – 11:00 a.m. at the funeral home. Interment will also take place on Friday at 3:00 p.m. in Blandford Cemetery, 319 S. Crater Road, Petersburg, Virginia 23803. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to St. Jude's Children Hospital. Condolences may be registered at www.ealvinsmall.com.