Elizabeth Blake

Mary Elizabeth Blake, age 98, died Friday, March 19, 2021, at home in Martin, Tennessee.  

Funeral service will be Sunday, March 21, 2021, 3:00 PM at Freeman's Chapel United Methodist Church, 3110 Stella Ruth Road in Martin with Rev. Terry English and Rev. Orrin Cowley officiating.  Burial will follow in East Side Cemetery in Martin.  Visitation will be Sunday at the church beginning at 1:00 PM until service time at 3:00 PM.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Quitman and Neva Prince; her husband, Charles Wayne Blake (2003); her son, Terry Blake (2004); brother General Prince (2019).

She is survived by three sons, Rev. Michael W. Blake, Steven W. (Diane) Blake both of Martin; Douglas Glen (Terrylyn) Blake of Terry, Mississippi; daughter-in-law, Sonya Blake Penick (David) of Martin; four grandchildren, Jon (Christy) Blake of Enville, TN, Dr. Cody (Carrie) Blake of Cleveland, Mississippi, Macy Blake and Sherree Watson both of Martin; four great-grandchildren, Karlee Blake, Annabeth Blake, Ethan Boyd and Maddox Finney.

Elizabeth grew up near Sidona, TN and moved with her parents to Chicago, Illinois.  While working at International Harvester Company she meet Charles Wayne (as people called him).  They married on March 2, 1946 and moved back to the Martin, TN area in 1948.  With all the family, she attended faithfully Freeman's Chapel Church.  As a devoted Christian, wife, homemaker, mother, "Memaw" (to her grandkids), the family recognize her for the apron she wore when cooking especially noodles!

She loved playing the piano even at a young age with her dad as he played the fiddle.  Elizabeth played by "ear" all her life.  However, later in life she took music lessons from Reba Wade and participated in several piano recitals.  She played for Freeman Chapel Methodist Church for 68 years and other churches, nursing homes or just wherever there was a piano.

Our many thanks for the care given by Stephanie Harper for the last five years.  Stephanie not only took good care of her but loved her as one of her own family members.  A special thanks to Dr. Kenneth Carr and staff for their medical oversight since 2013.  Near the end, Home Health (Abilis Health) and Hospice (Tennessee Quality Care) provided excellent assistance. And to Mike, her son, for seventeen years, in consultation with his brothers, took management of her day-to-day care, local trips, vacations and just treating her with love and kindness which is appreciated by all the family.

In Lieu of Flowers and In Memory of Elizabeth Blake, contributions to Freeman's Chapel United Methodist Church can be sent  c/o Murphy Funeral Home, P.O. Box 198, Martin, TN  38237.