Otis Daniel Blake Jr.

Otis Daniel Blake, Jr. died on August 4, 2013, while on vacation with family in North Carolina. The son of the late Adylein Ewing and Otis Daniel Blake, he was born on July 9, 1933, and lived in Griffin most of his 80 years.

Mr. Blake attended Griffin schools and graduated from The McCallie School in Chattanooga, TN. He received a BS in Industrial Management from Georgia Tech in 1955, where he was an active member in the Baptist Student Union. He was also a graduate of the Harvard Business School Owner/President Management Program in1987. He proudly served his country as an officer in the US Air force for two years. In later years he was a member of local American Legion Post 15.

After the Air Force he established Blake Builders Supply Company. For the next 41 years, he served as a residential contractor, developer, and building materials dealer. Mr. Blake earned a reputation for building quality homes, and he felt great satisfaction in seeing his finished products being enjoyed by families. He was actively involved, until the time of his death, as owner of Blake Developments and General Storage of Griffin, Lovejoy, and McDonough.

Mr. Blake was a man of deep and vibrant faith and this was reflected in both his service and commitment to First Baptist Church, Griffin for 54 years. He served in many capacities including Chairman of the Board of Deacons, Church Treasurer, Church Trustee, Life Deacon, and both youth and adult Sunday school teacher.

A member of the Griffin Rotary Club since 1958, and President in 1977-78, Mr. Blake enjoyed serving with his fellow Rotarians and was honored with the Rotarian of Distinction award in 2004.

A quiet and effective leader, he served in several capacities on numerous boards on both the local and state level. As a member of the Griffin-Spalding Development Authority he led planning and design for the Griffin-Spalding Industrial Park.

He was an avid supporter of education, serving as a Trustee of Tift College as well as Georgia Independent College Association since 1982. He was a founding member of the Board of Trustees of Griffin Tech / Southern Crescent Technical College and for the past 10 years served as Chairman of the Board. Mr. Blake was also the 2011 General Griffin. He generously gave of himself to numerous other civic activities and boards.

Otis Blake was a faithful and devoted husband and a loving family man. Loyal to his community and his fellow man, he was gifted at making people feel special with his warm smile and twinkling blue eyes. The joy of his life was being married for 54 years to Nancy Brock Blake. They enjoyed traveling together and experiencing the beauty of God’s creation.

He is survived by his wife and three children, Nancy Blake Tiller of Spartanburg, SC, Louise Blake York and husband Phil of Raleigh NC, and Otis D. Blake, III and wife Ellen of Griffin, GA. Known as “Daddy-O” by his eight grandchildren, Mr. Blake enjoyed their adoration and is survived by Louise Crowell Tiller, Walker Howard Tiller, Daniel Alexander Blake, Parker Wesley York, Lillian Dupree York, John Augustus Blake, Scott Ewing York and David Harrison Blake. He is also survived by his brother Andrew Ewing Blake and his wife, Alice, his brother and sister-in-law Leon and Marilyn Brock of Macon, Georgia, and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased in death by his son-in-law Dr. Wendell Howard Tiller, Jr. of Spartanburg, SC.

The family will receive friends Friday, August 9, at the home of Ellen and Otis Blake at 1011 East College Street from 6-8 p.m. There will be a private interment prior to the 11:00 a.m. Memorial Service at First Baptist Church, Griffin, followed by visitation in the Family Life Center.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First Baptist Church Griffin, Endowment Foundation, Inc., PO Box 908, Griffin, GA 30224; Southern Crescent Technical College Foundation, 501 Varsity Rd., Griffin, GA 30223; or Stepping Stones Educational Therapy Center, 141 Futral Road, Griffin, GA 30224.

Haisten McCullough Funeral Home, 1155 Everee Inn Rd. is in charge of arrangements.