Sheila Elizabeth Blanton

Sheila Elizabeth Blanton- 73
It is an honorable duty as a husband that I must inform all that knew her that she passed from my hand and presence, into the arms of our Lord Jesus Christ on August 26th, 2024, at 11:45 pm at Langdale Hospice House. Sheila Elizabeth Brothers was born on January 16th, 1951, to the late Leda Mary Brothers and Leo Arthur Brothers, where she grew up on a small dairy farm in West Chazy, New York with older sister Juanita and younger brother Myron. She is survived by sister Juanita; daughters: Cindy Verville (Michael) and Michelle Anderton (Gary) and daughter Rachel. Sheila attended the Catholic Church and Schools where she had house and farm chores after school. She continued her education and became an LPN and worked in a hospital in a small town in southwest Chazy. She worked with a young lady named Noreen that would become a long-time friend, more like a sister and they would attend classes to become RN's. In April of 1972 an event happened that changed the course of our lives and included her friend Noreen. As a young red bearded Navy Sailor, I was offered a blind date by a fellow sailor in training on the Navy nuclear propulsion prototypes at West Milton, New York. He and his wife were classmates with Sheila. I accepted the offer and asked for a second date and after a short courtship she accepted my proposal of marriage. I was in Newport News, VA, where I was assigned to the Nimitz CVAN-68 Pre-commissioning duty. I visited her in West Chazy twice and she went back with me once and returned by bus. On October 27, 1972, I made a 12-hour trip into 10 hours to her home. Next following day, at 3 pm on October 28th, Sheila E. Brothers became Mrs. Sheila E. Blanton. Sheila was selected to be a Navy Wives Ombudsman when we started sea trials. She invited Navy wives to our home in Newport News. Nimitz was Commissioned as USS Nimitz CVAN-68, and we were on the pier with my family at the ceremony. Then sea duty started. Med Cruise Task Force 75 left and Sheila had to take care of everything, and she moved to Valdosta in July 1976 with our infant daughter, Jennifer. I then left CVN-68 and Naples, Italy in November 1976 and returned with 7 years Naval service to my wife and child living with my parents in Valdosta. I returned in November just in time to spend Thanksgiving with my family. Sheila was employed as an LPN at Pineview Hospital, and I attended Vo-Tech, and a job offer took Sheila and Jennifer to join me in Spartanburg SC in April 1978 to my job at Michelin Tire Corp. US 3. Our son was born July 16th, 1979. We purchased a house just before our son was born and Sheila made it a home. Sheila was Civic minded and served as PTA President at the Elementary school for more than one term. She was The High School Band Booster President for 2 years. She worked in the Dr.’s Office in Boiling Springs, SC. We were blessed with grandchildren living in our household that brought Jimmy, Jesse and Joanna Cooper as part of the core group, Sheila continued to work and serve in the community. Sheila and I joined the American Legion family in South Carolina and continued in Georgia in 2014. The gray bearded husband retired from Michelin in 2013, and we moved back to Valdosta, GA in 2014. We returned to my home church building that I left in 1969 and came back to the building named Westside Baptist. Sheila participated in events and in the congregation and we both professed faith and trust in Jesus Christ. We were both baptized by my brother and brother in Christ, then Sheila's health began to decline. Afib was diagnosed and treated with three ablations, but she still suffered Afib. The 4th ablation and Watchman procedure was scheduled and deferred due to low blood count. She was diagnosed with a rare blood cancer that was not curable but was controllable. She started treatment at Pearlman Cancer Center but was becoming too weak to stay at home. After a fall, she went by ambulance from to SGMC Emergency Room and the next day transferred by ambulance to the Augusta Cancer Hospital and received a heroic effort to cure her. I was allowed to see most of the treatments and could see the pain she suffered. When the ICU staff agreed that they could not cure her, my wife of 52 years and 10 months wanted to go home. What man and technology could not cure was because of God's will that I prayed for and not my own will. She was taken by ambulance from Augusta to Valdosta and I made it to Langdale Hospice just as the transport ambulance opened the back door and took her to her room. I stayed 2 nights by her side and on the 3rd night the gray bearded husband dozed and awoke as the nurse checked vitals and announced to our friends, cousins, aunts, uncles, sisters, grandchildren, daughter, son and husband that she had passed and was free of pain. Sheila is survived by her daughter Jennifer Silvey; son Stephen Jr.; grandsons: Jimmy Cooper and Jesse Cooper; granddaughter, Joanna Cooper. I know this special woman in my life is at peace and is in the presence of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. She is in our memories and hearts at our home at 115 Sunnymeade Dr, Valdosta. The home she wanted to go to is being in the presence of Jesus and a Heavenly Home is the destination. I thank God for guiding a young woman and young man, living a thousand miles apart, were brought together in marriage and lived through the good times and the trials of life. When she was called home, God gave me the strength to be able to stand by her side until the vow of "until death do us part” was completed. I may to live to be a hundred, but I intend carry her memory in my heart and to honor that vow until death brings me into the presence of the Lord Jesus. The Lord made me strong enough to kiss her goodbye, profess my love and escort her to the transport waiting at Hospice House. Thank You Jesus Amen.
A memorial service will be held at 7:00 PM, Tuesday, September 3, 2024, in the Valdosta Chapel of Music Funeral Services. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. Kind words and expressions of sympathy can be left for the family at www.musicfuneralservices.com . The Blanton family is being served by the professional and caring staff of Music Funeral Services.