Lillian Blankenship

Lillian Shipman Blankenship, age 88, passed away on Sunday, May 25, 2014 at The Homestead. A native of Martinsville, Virginia, she resided in Canton most of her life and was the daughter of the late Oswald Lee and Rosa Bell Burns Shipman. She was also preceded in death by her husband, Willard Blankenship, who died in 1962; a daughter, Mary Ann Blankenship; two brothers, Wade and Claude Shipman; and a sister, Virginia Shipman. She graduated from Blanton's Business College and retired from BASF with 24 years of service where she worked in the Payroll Department. She also worked at Belk-Hudson in Canton, Champion Papers and Charlie's Drive-Inn. Lillian was a member of High Street Baptist Church. She is survived by three daughters, Brenda (James) of Canton, Barbara of Canton, and Rosa Lee (Charles) of Candler; a son, Billy (Sandra) of Maggie Valley; a sister, Louise (Poley) of Canton; a half-brother, George (Jewell) of Martinsville, Virginia; ten grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, May 27, 2014, at High Street Baptist Church with the Reverend Christopher Willett and Reverend Josh Evans officiating. Burial will follow at Sunny Point Baptist Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 10:00 until 10:45 a.m. prior to the service at the church. Memorials may be made to The Homestead, 127 Sunset Ridge, Clyde, NC 28721 or to Gideon International Haywood-East Camp, P.O. Box 1204, Canton, NC 28716.

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