Mercer Jefferson Blankenship, Jr.
October 13, 1935 ~ November 5, 2013
Resided in:
Arden, NC
Arden ~ Mercer Jefferson Blankenship Jr., 78, died peacefully in his sleep on Tuesday, November 5, 2013.
Mercer was born in Charlotte, NC to the late Mercer Jefferson Blankenship, Sr. and Marjorie Wood Blankenship. He graduated from Davidson College in 1957. He taught English at Ramesuer High School before moving to New York City in the late 1950s. In 1962 he graduated from UNC Law School and went to work in the Domestic Court of Mecklenburg County. He went into private practice soon after and retired after 30 years in 1996. That year he walked the Appalachian Trail and finished in 6 months and five days. He was an avid runner for most of his life until becoming ill in 2006.
Mercer loved the outdoors and his cabin on Roan Mountain, where he spent a great deal of time in the last several years. He was a literature graduate who loved poetry and classical music. He played the cornet and loved to ride his bike until his illness.
He was cared for in his home by his daughter, Lisa and friend Michael Payne. He is also survived by his two sons, Scott of Canton, NY and Gil of New Orleans, LA.
He was greatly loved by his family and will be sadly missed. We would like to extend our thanks to Rev. Julie Merritt Lee and the congregation of Providence Baptist Church for their ongoing support and kindness during our father's illness.
A memorial service will be held at a later date and in lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the charity of one's choice.
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Those pictured here in a recent photo with Mercer (Fella) are his two brothers Steve Blankenship of Rock Hill, SC, Dave Blankenship of Charlotte, NC and Rosemary Blankenship Hubbard of Lincolnton, NC.
Not pictured are the late sisters, Marjorie Blankenship Melton and Rachel Blankenship Ross.
Fella, you are loved and will be missed by so many of your extended family:
George Melton Sr., George Melton, Jr., Marjorie Melton Harris, Carrie Melton Metlock, Glen Ross, Stephen Ross, April Ross, Imogene Blankenship Noe, Marion Blankenship Dewar, Marjorie Blankenship Tedesco, Susan Blankenship, Jeff Blankenship, Al Hubbard, Mike Hubbard, Rachel Hubbard Lightfoot, Mac Blankenship, Ann Blankenship, Mike Blankenship, Betty Blankenship, Richard Blankenship, Shirley Blankenship, Steele Blankenship, Barbara Blankenship, Ben Blankenship, Faye Blankenship and Pat Blankenship.
‘Fella’, I’ll fondly remember the good times, filed with laughter and encouragement. Those not mentioned are the many friends and family that you left in Charlotte when you moved to Asheville, numerous clients who you helped with their legal issues, the one most important person, the late Eula Mae Wallace, who was our housekeeper growing up but who was part of our family, the late Hilda Hambley. Rest in peace; my brother.
Steve
Steve,
I’m just seeing your note this May of 2022 and I love your words.
Thank you,
Cousin Terri
Fella, you were like an older brother to me. I have fond memories of your leading our epic hike up peaks mountain in 1960, with steve, dave, and me.
i fell in love with the mountains. you did lead us up the hard way-through lotsw of briars and brambles! and i remember our carrying water in a big glass mason jar, of all things! ah, technology. now we can wrap a plastic bladder around us.
i think you and i probably prefer the old way in a lot of things. rest in peace.
Prayers for the entire family. We will miss Uncle Fella!
You will be missed
All of us who knew and loved you are much richer because of your friendship. You were one of my best pals and I know you are saving me a seat wherever you are!! Bye bye Merk-ee. Thanks for your love…
The entire Blankenship with miss Uncle Fella. He was one of the smartest people I knew who loved books, music, and his family. I will always remember Uncle Fella letting me live with him when I first graduated from college and moved to Charlotte. We had many fun times sitting on his porch in Dilworth talking about my mom and grandparents. My dad, Dr. George Melton, feel in love with my mom, Marjorie Blankenship, who was Uncle Fella’s sister, many years ago. Dad and Uncle Fella shared a love of Davidson College. George Jr., Carrie Beth, and I loved Uncle Fella and will miss him very much. I know that he is now enjoying a happy reunion with my mom, Marjorie Blankenship Melton, his other loving sister, Rachel Blankenship Ross, and my grandparents, Mercer and Marjorie Blankenship. Our wonderful Blankenship family loved Uncle Fella and he will always live in our hearts.
We will surely miss Uncle Fella! His kind, gentle, manner was an inspiration to us all! I have fond memories of family gatherings during the holidays and other special occasions! It’s a comfort to know that he is in Heaven with my mom, Aunt Rachel, and Grandfather and Grandmother Blankenship!
We were saddened to hear of Mercer’s passing. He was a good and loyal friend for many years and will be missed.
George Melton, Sr.
Daughter Marjorie Harris is on target in saying that her dad and Fella shared a love of Davidson College. Fella came to Davidson as a freshman in 1953-54 when I was a senior there. Later, after I had married his sister Marjorie, we were also enrolled at UNC- Chapel Hill where he was a student in the law school and I was in graduate school studying history. Fella was a good law student, passing the state bar examination during a year (1961 or 1962, I can’t remember) when most of his classmates failed to pass it. I remember fondly the many occasions afterwards when all of us celebrated Christmas and other holidays at the Blankenship house on Providence Road. Fella was very special to all us us. We will miss him.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you in your time of grief. May your memories bring you comfort. Mercer was a great friend to our family and he will truly be missed. If there is anything we can do please don’t hesitate to ask. GOD Bless ~ Bobby & Nancy Hamilton and family
I started calling him ‘Uncle Fella’ after my daughter was born. After that time I always considered ‘Uncle’ to be part of his name. I never called him ‘Fella’ but always ‘Uncle Fella’.
After I lost Rachel, Uncle Fella became my best friend. Many times he drove to Stone Mountain to meet with me. We would go hiking in Stone Mountain Park or we would watch from my collection of vintage television programs. His favorite was the original ‘Twilight Zone’. Many times he would join me on holidays in the mountains or at the beach.
I introduced Uncle Fella to internet dating. Through the internet he met a lady, Judy, who he spent a lot of time with. Then he went to Ireland for a cross country bicycle tour. While in Ireland he met another lady, Francis. He seemed to like both ladies, but he decided that he had to choose one lady over the other. He choose Francis, but ended up losing both of the ladies.
After the accident I would visit with Uncle Fella whenever I was able to get to the mountains. It was hard for me to talk with him because I am not good at one sided conversations. He would shake my hand and greet me. I could not tell how much of what I said had meaning to him.
I met Mercer in law school at Chapel Hill and after graduating in 1963 I came to Charlotte where my wife and I became friends with Mercer and Liz. Later we purchased a home on Jefferson Drive which he said was named after him. I remember one Friday night we had been out together and came back to our house. It was in December and my wife said she had always wanted to go to New York at Christmas. Mercer said well let’s go,if we leave now and drive all night we could see the sights, take in a play, have a late dinner and drive back. He was always ready for an adventure. The world needs more Mercer Blankenships.
Mercer, or Fella, as we called him, was my older brother. I have been thinking of our days together as children, growing up on Scotland Ave. in Charlotte, and attending Eastover Elementary together. There were six of us children. He and Margie were the eldest, close in age and very close to each other. Rachel and I were next, followed by Steve and David. My eyes were always on Fella. I followed him around a lot. Went to his band concerts, watched him play many a tennis match at Central High School, where he was captain of the tennis team as well as president of the band, in which he was first trumpet and cornet player. Someone who loved him like her own son was our maid, Lula Bell Brown. She gave him the nickname Fella. ‘My boy Fella,’ she called him with a beaming smile.
Our father was so proud when Fella passed the bar in a year when most failed it. I remember helping him study for the Bar in the Drum Restaurant on East Blvd. He practised with Dad a long time. When our father passed in 1979, he spent a lot of time with our mother, taking her on many trips which they both enjoyed, until cancer took her in 1981. He’s gone to be with them now, along with our sisters Marjorie and Rachel. We love you Fella, and will always think of you!
I knew Mercer as a neighbor when we were teenagers, as a tennis player, as a fellow student at Davidson and as an attorney who helped my family with legal matters. In every thing he did he excelled.
Arthur, Did you live next door to us on the corner of Providence Rd. and Scotland Ave.? If so, your younger sister Carol was my little friend. I remember playing dress-up in our mothers’ clothes and hats. She and I played together a lot, and I was so sorry about your loss when she died. We had moved by then, way out Providence. I remember your Mother very well, a lovely lady.
I hope I have the right person. I recalled Carol had an older brother about my brother’s age. I’m glad he was able to help your family as a lawyer. Do you still live in Charlotte? We’re in Lincolnton now.
Best wishes, Rosemary Blankenship Hubbard (Mrs. Allen Hubbard)
When we would come to visit the Blankenships, the first thing I would do after greeting the folks and making pleasantries would be call Fella and arrange to spill a few beers and solve the world’s problems. We had some great times at the Blankenship’s cabin in Roan Valley and tooling around Charlotte in his beloved Mercedes planning the foray to NYC which never happened. Everything he set out to do, he did whole hog. He was a good friend and I will miss him.
Fella would tell me from time to time that when he learned I was born, he was knocking tennis balls against the living room doors. Being 14 years his junior, I always looked up to him as a hero – When I was 9, Fella drove me to the mountain cabin in Papa Wood’s DeSoto but the generator gave out on the way. He managed to make it to a mechanic, but the part would not be available until the next day. The mechanic’s family put us up for the night, gave us breakfast, and sent us on our way to the cabin with the new generator, all at no cost save the $20 for the part. Always one of Fella’s favorite stories.
One of mine is when he lost his ATM card while hiking the Appalachian Trail, Steve and I delivered a new one to him in Virginia. Before we left him, I carried his 40-lb. pack for him for about 30 minutes up the trail, before I had to turn back. Fella gave me the honor of driving his car to Mount Katahdin in Maine, and located him camped out at the foot of the mountain. We both hiked the last leg up to the summit the next day, the northern terminus of the Trail, then drove the 2 days home. A very emotional time for him after his 6 month hike.
Fella ran 10ks and marathons before it was cool to run – and he was fast. His finishing the Boston Marathon in under 3 1/2 hours was one of his crowning achievements. Also, bicycling the Blue Ridge Parkway at age 60.
I’m running and cycling today because of Fella, and he will always be my hero. We all had great memories visiting Fella at his house on Kingston Ave. in Dilworth. Also, he, Steve and I spent more than one night camped in the infield at the stock car races. I miss him and will always cherish the memories.
Dave Blankenship
Lisa, I am sorry for the loss of your father. You were a wonderful daughter and took excellent care of him. Thankfully you were able to keep him out of skill care and he was able to die at home. I know this as I live in Asheville and witnessed the near perfect care you gave on all levels. I’ve known your family for as long as you are old and spent many a day with all of you. Your mom, Mercer, my late ex husband John and I use to hang out together a lot. My favorite memory of him is when we went to a fancy steak house to celebrate my 28th birthday. Your mom stood on the table and sang Happy Birthday. Your dad and John nearly crawled under the table and your dad kept saying decibels Elizabeth decibels. The other memory is when he roped me into being a den mother. Oh I guess there are lots of them when I stop to think. I am proud of the young woman you became and the loving care you gave to your dad. My heart hurts for you and your loss. I know you father is flying around the eithers and will stick close to you. He is free now from his earthly woes.