Martha Shumpert Blanchard

Martha Katherine Shumpert Blanchard of Metairie, Louisiana, passed away on Friday, June 2, 2017, at the age of 93. She was born on November 25, 1923 in Fulton, Mississippi to Mark and Mable Shumpert. She grew up on a farm in the Richmond Community near Tupelo, Mississippi. She finished high school at Plantersville High School in Plantersville, Mississippi and received a Bachelor’s Degree from Mississippi State College for Women in Columbus, Mississippi.

Martha worked with the United States Department of Agriculture for one year in Hammond, Louisiana, where she traveled frequently to perform food inspections for the U.S. Government. Martha met her husband, Edward I. Blanchard after moving to Louisiana, and the two were married on August 29, 1946. They were happily married for 61 years. After moving to Metairie, she worked as a teacher for the Jefferson Parish School board, serving many years at Riverdale High School. Martha was an active member of Metairie Baptist Church since 1946 where she leaves many close friends, whom she considered family. Her hobbies included cooking for family and friends, sewing, and most recently, crocheting sweaters for children in need through World Vision. Martha had completed 129 sweaters.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her three brothers Mitchell (Irene), Gerald (Mary), and Billy (Thelma); her one sister Mary Elizabeth Cole (Bill); and her loving husband Ed. Martha is survived by her only son, R. Edward Blanchard (Marian), her grandchildren Ian (Morgan), Anna-Lauren, Ashlyn (Clark), Caitlyn, Alyssa and Alexandra Bourquien; her great granddaughter, Riley; and her step-grandchildren James, Kevin, Joseph, and Nancy Clare Rolf; and by many nieces and nephews in the Tupelo Community.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend a memorial service at METAIRIE BAPTIST CHURCH, 401 Codifer Boulevard, on Saturday, June 10, 2017. Visitation will be held from 9:00-11:00 am with the Memorial Service following with Dr. Thomas Strong, officiant and with Martha’s nephew Rev. Thomas Condon, co-officiant. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorials in honor of Martha Shumpert Blanchard may be made to Metairie Baptist Church, or to the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation.