While we were not ready to tell him goodbye, the Lord had other plans, calling Jerry Holmes Blount (77) home on Sunday, July 5, 2020. Beloved husband of 56 years to his best friend, Charlayne Sullivan Blount, and loving father of Shayne Banks (Brandon, Mississippi) and Charles Blount (Los Angeles, California). Proud grandfather to Sara Jordan and Carson Banks and a proud great-grandfather to be. He was preceded in death by Maggie, his beloved Pekingese.
While Jerry accomplished much in this life, it is the little things that we will remember most. Listening to him sing in the morning as he cooked breakfast (mind you he lived in a house of non-morning people who never understood his need to sing). His love of cooking, even now we are scouring his cookbooks to make sure one of us knows how to make the “good stuff,” Dad’s famous BBQ sauce. The many late nights at horse shows enabling his horse-crazy daughter to follow her passion. The late nights waiting in surprise for his unsuspecting son to come home after curfew, which happened more often than you would think (or if you know him, maybe not). The long talks and the countless life lessons. I will never drink “tea” again without thinking of him and his green cups.
Jerry had a heart of gold. He practiced law in Mississippi for over 50 years, and never hesitated to use his degree to help those who needed help. Whether a prince or a pauper, it made no difference, he never turned anyone away. In addition to his private practice, he spent many years offering his expertise to individuals at Mission First, Stew Pot and “New Life for Women,” a half-way house for chemically dependent women.
He was involved in the American Bar Association, the Mississippi Bar and the Hinds County Bar, serving on several committees. Besides practicing law, he was active in Jackson’s civic affairs. He served as the President of the Sertoma Club of Jackson, as well as the District Governor for Sertoma International, being responsible for all clubs located within the State of Mississippi. He served as the President of the Northside YMCA and was on the board of management of the metropolitan YMCA. He was a member of the Jackson Chamber of Commerce and served on the Good Government Committee.
For many years Jerry was an active member of Woodland Hills Baptist Church where he served on the Board of Deacons. He also served on the Board of Directors of Woodland Hills Baptist Academy for eleven years and served as its President for five. In recent years, Jerry and Charlayne moved their church membership to First Baptist Church of Jackson, where Jerry was an active member and led his men’s Sunday School Class.
Even when his body began to fail him, he never faltered in his faith. In memory of Jerry, we ask that everyone who knew him, perform an unexpected and unsolicited act of kindness for someone in need. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to: Mission First Legal Aid Office, ATTN: Carlyn Hicks, 275 Roseneath Avenue, Jackson, MS 39203. Volunteer work at Mission First was important to Jerry.
Friends are invited to share Jerry’s life at the Chapel at First Baptist Church of Jackson on Wednesday, July 8 at 1:00 p.m.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18