Catherine (Katie) Blanton

Mary Catherine (Katie) Garbutt Blanton, 87, peacefully passed away at Langdale Place, on December 4, 2011. The youngest of eleven children, she was born July 27, 1924, in Statenville, GA, to the late Allie Glenn and Lida Kittrell Garbutt. When she was a young child, her family moved to Valdosta where she lived the rest of her life. She graduated from Valdosta High School and Georgia State Woman's College, where she taught swimming. She swam laps daily until she was in her late 70s. Her graduate degrees were from Valdosta State College and the University of Georgia. She was a teacher and media specialist in the Valdosta City Schools and a librarian at South Georgia Regional Library. In the mid 1970s, she organized and served as media specialist in the first library at Sallas-Mahone Elementary School. She wrote and directed several grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities to motivate and enrich children's reading. She enjoyed writing; her articles were published in popular and professional journals. In 1954, she and her husband, the late Brooker Blanton, were founding members of Park Avenue United Methodist Church, where she sang in the choir for many years and was active in The Parlor Sunday School Class. After retirement, she pursued her passions for gardening, receiving a degree in horticulture from Valdosta Technical School, and for travel, nearly achieving her goal to visit all 50 states. She was a member of the General James Jackson Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution and The Literary Guild.

Survivors include a daughter and son-in-law, Catherine (Taffy) and George Price of Valdosta; a son and daughter-in-law, Charles Brooker (Buck) II and Missy Blanton of Jacksonville, Florida; grandchildren, Brooke Price Hendry (Chris) of Macon, Tom Price (Jessica) of Marietta, Holly Fender Hutchinson (Craig) of Valdosta, Brand Fender (Holly) of Hahira, C. Brooker Blanton III (Tory), Tucker Blanton and Bennett Blanton all of Jacksonville, Florida; great-grandchildren, Hannah and Hillary Hutchinson, Connor and Caroline Fender; sisters and brothers-in-law, Sarah Garbutt Duncan (Howard) of Riviera Beach, Florida and Elizabeth Garbutt Shaw (James) of Tallahassee, Florida; numerous nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by a daughter, Terry Blanton Fender; sisters, Frances Garbutt Carroll and Ruth Garbutt Curtright; brothers, John Garbutt, Glenn Garbutt, Elmo Garbutt, Arthur Garbutt, Frank Garbutt and Harry Garbutt. The family extends a heartfelt thank you to Marsha Green and all the staff at Langdale Place and express deep appreciation to Ester Dyer, the most loving and dedicated caregiver.

A memorial service for Katie Blanton will be held on Thursday, December 8, 2011 at 2 p.m. in the chapel of the Carson McLane Funeral Home with Rev. William DeMersseman officiating. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Contributions may be made to the Blanton-Price Scholarship for Instructional Technology Students at Valdosta State University. Condolences can be made online at www.mclanefuneralservices.com. Carson McLane.


Funeral Home:
Carson McLane Funeral Home
2215 North Patterson Street
Valdosta, GA
US 31602