Shirley Holmes Blansett

Shirley Holmes Blansett, of Columbia, Mississippi, went to be with her Lord on Monday, January 6, 2020, at the age of 74. She was a lifelong resident of Marion County and retired from Rutter Rex Manufacturing Company where she worked for 45 years. She was a longtime faithful member of First Baptist Church of Columbia. Shirley will be remembered as a sweet, kind person who was devoted to her family and always had a smile. She was preceded in death by a son, James Joseph Blansett; her parents, Irene and Joe Holmes; two sisters, Lavern Lawrence and Mary Lee Thornhill; and a brother, Howard Martin. Shirley is survived by her husband of 53 years, Julius Blansett; two daughters, Angela (Pat) Koepp and Jennifer (Bobby) Cox; two sons, Clifford (Barbara) Blansett and Jesse (Anita) Blansett; a brother, J.B. (Carolyn) Holmes; eleven grandchildren, Jonathan Blansett, Matthew Blansett, Sarah Blansett, Paige Blansett, Justin Cox, Kelly Cox, Austin Cox, Haley Blansett, Britney Koepp, Jacob Koepp, and James Koepp; and nine great-grandchildren. There will be a visitation for Shirley at Colonial Funeral Home on Wednesday, January 8, 2020 from 5:00pm until 9:00pm. The funeral service will be at 11:00am on Thursday, January 9, 2020 at First Baptist Church of Columbia where friends may visit from 9:00am until service time. Burial will follow in Cedar Grove Baptist Church Cemetery.