Jimmy Blanton, age 90, of Forest City, passed away Thursday, April 16, 2026, at Hospice of the Carolina Foothills.
Jimmy was born December 2, 1935, in Rutherford County to the late James Arthur Blanton and Anne Blackburn Blanton. He was a 1959 graduate of Clemson University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Textile Manufacturing. Upon graduating, he joined Cone Mills in Forest City and held various managerial positions at Cone's Florence and Haynes plants. In 1968, he was named manager of the American Spinning Plant of Cone Mills Corporation in Greenville, SC. Jimmy was later group manager of the Florence Plant (Forest City), Haynes Plant (Avondale), and American Spinning Plant (Greenville, SC). He served as Vice President of Strickland Mills in Valdosta, GA; Vice President of Piedmont Plush in Greenville, SC; and Vice President of Marion Manufacturing in Marion, NC. He retired from Galey & Lord in Marion, NC, as Supervisor. His professional affiliations included the Greenville Textile Club and the Southern Textile Association.
Jimmy was a lifelong member of the United Methodist Church. In his childhood and youth, he was a member of Pleasant Grove UMC. He was an active member of the First United Methodist Church of Marion, NC for over thirty years, serving in the choir, in the Methodist Men's group, and on various committees. Upon returning to Forest City in his later years, Jimmy resumed active membership at Pleasant Grove UMC.
He was an active community member as well. Jimmy was a Master Mason for sixty-two years, serving as Chaplain, and a Shriner for twenty-five years, serving as Treasurer. He shared the Gospel through prison outreach ministry as a member of The Gideons International. While in Marion, NC, he served on the Board of Directors of the Lake James Environmental Association. Jimmy left a legacy, not just in words, but in a life that stood as a testament to Christ.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife of fifty-seven years, Kay Roberson Blanton; son, Jaime Blanton; and son-in-law, John Grant, Jr.
Those left to cherish his memory include his daughter, Shelley Blanton Grant of Forest City; daughter-in-law, Gail Blanton of Easley, SC; sisters, June Stitzel and Patricia Harrelson (Harry) of Forest City, and Connie Toney (Darrell) of Bostic; brother, Dr. Sammy Blanton (Wanda) of Forest City; grandsons James Grant (Hannah) of Charlotte and William Grant (Sarah) of Denton, NC; granddaughter Shannon Allen (David) of Easley, SC; and great-grandchildren Holden Grant, Merritt Grant, Webb Grant, Atlas Grant, and Londyn Allen.
The family would like to thank the staff of Hospice of the Carolina Foothills for their loving and compassionate care during the last few months of his life.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations are requested to Pleasant Grove UMC, PO Box 880, Forest City, NC 28043; The Gideons International, www.gideons.org (http://www.gideons.org/); or Shriners Children's Hospital, https://donate.shrinerschildrens.org/.
A private celebration of Jimmy's life will be held for the family.
Harrelson Funeral and Cremation Services has been entrusted with arrangements.
An online guest registry is available at www.harrelsonfuneralhome.com