A worship service to celebrate her life will be held Wednesday, February 9, 2011 at 2:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Cecil M. Burton Funeral Home. The worship service will conclude with the burial at Ross Grove Baptist Church Cemetery.  Dr. Tim Elmore will be officiating.  An hour before the service Irene Blanton’s family will receive friends and family at Cecil M. Burton Funeral Home.

Irene Blanton was born March 14, 1910, to Sidney Columbus and Alice Baker Beattie in Crouse, NC.  She had three older brothers, Fay Beattie, Lee Carl Beattie and Guy Baker Beattie.  After earning her teacher’s degree from Women’s College of the University of NC (now UNC-Greensboro) and Lenoir Rhyne College, she taught school in Lincoln County.  Later she taught in several schools in the Shelby area.  In 1934 she married Joe E. Blanton, Jr. and lived the rest of her full and rich life in Shelby.  She was a teacher, a salesperson, a volunteer, an actively involved member of her church and a devoted homemaker.  She held a deep religious faith that sustained her and which she expressed in her living.  In every area of her life she made friends, found pleasure in helping others, and took loving delight in her family.

Irene Blanton was preceded in death by her parents, her brothers and by her husband.

Survivors who are privileged to cherish her memory are her daughter, Martha B. Carpenter of Shelby; daughter and son-in-law Saralyn B. and Kelley Griffith of Greensboro, NC; grandchildren, Jill C. and Glenn Bradshaw of Union Mills, NC, Brad Carpenter of Shelby, Gareth and Kelly Griffith of Greensboro; Bronwen G. and Graham McCormick of Enka, NC; great grandchildren, Joseph Bradshaw, Eddie and Anna Shomate, Bryce Griffith, Maddock Griffith, Cade Griffith, and Gillian McCormick, and one great-great grandchild, Caidan Shomate.    Remembering her as well are many friends and extended family members.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Zion Baptist Church, 525 West Zion Church Road, Shelby, NC 28150 or to Habitat for Humanity of Cleveland County, 323 West Grover Street, P.O. Box 2908, Shelby, NC 28151. 

Cecil M. Burton Funeral Home is serving the family of Mrs. Blanton.

Guest Registry is available at

www.cecilmburtonfuneralhome.com