James H Blankenship

Reverend James H Blankenship Sr., 94, of Dinwiddie, departed this life on Sunday March 3, 2024. Born in Ettrick, Va on January 27, 1930, he was the son of the late Horace and Ethel Blankenship and was preceded in death by his wife of 69 years, Anne Davis Blankenship and his beloved granddaughter, Elizabeth Hancock. James, known to most as Jimmy, attended Petersburg High School where he won many accolades in sports, especially football. He attended Randolph Macon college for two years when he was drafted during the Korean War. He became an instructor in radio communications and Morse code for the army. After his discharge in 1954 he earned a BA from the University of Richmond, met and married the love of his life, Anne, and began his career as an educator in Dinwiddie County. He quickly became the favorite Social Studies teacher, a coach of girls’ basketball and softball teams and finished his 21-year career in administration as the principal of Dinwiddie Elementary School at the same time earning a Master of Education from the College of William and Mary in 1969. Always a man of strong faith Jimmy answered the Lord's call in 1975. He gave up his educator role and became a minister of Christ, with the help and devotion of his wife Anne, to 2 small churches in Dinwiddie. He completed a Fifth-year study course from Duke Divinity School in 1980. He spent the majority of his pastoral career at Ettrick United Methodist Church. He considered it the greatest honor of his life to preach in the small town where he was born and raised. At the age of 70 he was forced into mandatory retirement and spent several years enjoying traveling and family. God called him once more and he began preaching at Tabb Street Presbyterian until his final retirement at age 90. His interests included history, reading, sports, music and especially his family. Family time was precious. He loved his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. He loved to watch old comedians and cowboy movies. He loved to sing, play the piano and guitar but in everything God came first. His passion was for everyone to know, love and accept Christ. He was a kind, caring and compassionate man and a disciple of Christ.  He is survived by four children: James H Blankenship Jr., Linda Orlando (Joe), Stuart Blankenship, Kelly Hancock; 5 grandchildren: Anna Lisa Hancock, James Blankenship, Joseph Orlando (Christina), Zachary Orlando (Elizabeth), Michael Blankenship; 4 great-grandchildren; a daughter-in-law: Betsy Blankenship; a former son-in-law, Stanley Hancock; and a brother-in-law, Russell Lee Davis (Gail). Many thanks to close family friends Kathy Hicks and Judy Ryan for their all the help, concern and kindness shown to our family. A funeral service will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 9, 2024 at the Colonial Heights Chapel of E. Alvin Small Funeral Homes, 2033 Boulevard Colonial Heights, Virginia 23834.  Interment will follow at Blandford Cemetery, 319 S. Crater Road, Petersburg, Virginia 23803. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the funeral on Saturday from 1:30 – 3:00 p.m. at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association. Condolences may be registered at www.ealvinsmall.com.