Jamie Elizabeth Blake, a lifelong resident of Mobile, passed away peacefully on June 7, 2025. Born on November 26, 1939, she was a woman of deep faith, fierce love for her family and friends, and unwavering strength.
A proud graduate of Murphy High School, she earned her B.A. in Education from Huntingdon College and later received her M.A. from Auburn University. She spent over 30 years teaching middle school English at Sydney Phillips and Azalea Road, bringing passion, structure, and a no-nonsense love of grammar to her students.
Her life outside the classroom was shaped by two lifelong commitments: church and family. Her father served as a district lay leader and her mother led countless ministries. Church was at the heart of her upbringing—she and her siblings were active in the youth group, her brother played piano during services, and Sunday afternoons often meant a house full of church friends and food. Throughout her life, she dove into community leadership—serving two terms as board president of the Dumas Wesley Community Center, remaining active at both Government Street Methodist and Dauphin Way Methodist, serving many roles in United Methodist Women (UMW), and later focusing on inner-city outreach. Throughout her life, she was an active member of church choirs, where she joyfully combined her love of music and worship. She was a tireless advocate, especially for the underdog—but not without first asking hard questions, challenging assumptions, and forming her own well-informed opinions. When asked what boards she had served on, the running joke was, “Which one didn’t she?”
In addition to her community and church involvement, she made time for fun—and she played to win. Her longtime supper club was a cherished part of her life, filled with friendship and laughter. Whether she was playing dominoes, working on puzzles, or deep into a game night with friends, she brought the same energy and drive she brought to everything else: to win. And she didn’t let anyone off easy—not even her young nieces and nephews, who quickly learned that if you played a game with her, you had to earn your victory!
She was expressive and opinionated. You always knew where she stood—and if you didn’t, she’d be happy to tell you. At every family gathering, she brought her trusty Polaroid camera. While often met with groans, her constant documenting became a treasured gift to the family. She loved being with family—always offering snacks, changing the subject to keep things going, and asking just one more question to stretch out the conversation. She simply didn’t want time with those she loved to end.
Family was everything to her. She adored her siblings, nieces, and nephews—and they knew it. She outlived both her siblings and came to be known as the strong, stable center of the family. The glue. The constant. She showed up, she cheered the loudest, and she spoiled her nieces and nephews unapologetically.
She is survived by her loving nieces and nephews: Rachel B. Fry (Charles) and James M. Blake IV of Birmingham, AL, Clarke M. Gillespie III (Genie) of Chicago, IL, and Lisa G. Reckmeyer (Tony) and Laurie Gillespie of Ashburn, VA and her great nieces and nephew, McKinley, Sarah, Hannah, Powell, and Blakely.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in her honor to Dumas Wesley Community Center, Huntingdon College, or Dauphin Way Methodist Church.
Following a private family burial, visitation will be held on Thursday, June 19, 2025, at 2:30pm at Dauphin Way Methodist Church with the funeral service to be held at 3:30pm.
