Betty Jean Barber Blakeman

Pelham: Betty Jean Barber Blakeman, 70, of 856 Lovelace Road, passed away on Monday, October 26, 2009 at Rockingham Hospice Home.Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM, Thursday, October 29, 2009 at Lively Stones Baptist Church with Rev. Michael Kent officiating. Interment will follow in the church cemetery. Mrs. Blakeman was born in Caswell County on March 26, 1939 to the late Bevely T. and Bertha Towler Barber. Betty was the youngest of 14 children, all but two of which were born at home. Betty was of the Baptist faith and was a charter member of Lively Stones Baptist Church. She was very active in the church and was a Sunday school teacher for many years. Along with gardening she loved tending to her flowers. Betty loved spending time with her family but most of all she loved her beloved grandchildren to whom she was known as “Nana”. She was known in the community as a hardworking woman that held high values of integrity. Betty retired from Commonwealth Brands, formerly American Tobacco Company with over 30 years service. Along with her parents she was preceded in death by her brothers and sisters; Thomas Kermit Barber, Sterley Absent Barber, Nannie Wade Barber, Ernest Ervin Barber, Gladys Barber Tucker, Raymond Clyde Barber and Ruby Barber Vaughn.Surviving are husband, William “Kenny” Kenneth Blakeman of the home; daughters, Christy Blakeman Martin and husband, Thomas “Stan” of Martinsville, Va. and Cheryl Amy Blakeman Foster and husband, Ronnie of Pelham; grandchildren, Madison Martin, Holli Martin and Blake Foster; brothers, Lester Clinton Barber of Danville, Va., Willard Swanson Barber and wife Shirley of Reidsville, Swanson Roosevelt Barber and wife, Ruby of Providence; sisters, Gatrel Barber Hyler of Ruffin and Frances Barber Hobbs of Pelham.The family will receive friends at Wilkerson Funeral Home on Wednesday, October 28 from 6:00 – 8:00 PM and other times at the home.