Josephine M Blankenship

On February 22, 2026, Josephine Marie Blankenship set off on a once in a lifetime trip having achieved her ultimate and final ‘goal’, as she called it, to be in the heavenly presence of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. She is no doubt now reunited with her many family and friends that passed before her.

Born in Washington D.C., September 1931, she enjoyed a childhood with her two sisters Maxine and Gloria and her parents Joseph and Estella in a city that is a centerpiece of American history. There were difficult times in her youth as these years included the Great Depression and the beginning and the end of World War II. Nonetheless, she would often regale us with stories of the early days of her life, that included recollections of visits to the family farm on the West Virginia-Virginia state line, playing dolls as a child in the unrestored ruins of Frederick Douglas’s DC home, and being seated on the White House lawn for the annual Easter Egg Roll only an arms-length away from President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. One of the best was of a ‘clandestine’ visit to the Bureau of Investigation, sneaking the opportunity to sit behind the desk of J. Edgar Hoover with a high school classmate while her classmates’ father, a Bureau agent, was out of town on ‘assignment’ with the Director. As a young woman, she even worked with the C.I.A. for a period of time.

The greatest story of all began when she met and ultimately married her Anacostia High School sweetheart Roy. Once married, she became the loving wife of our Dad, a U.S. Air Force service member, and began traveling and living the military base lifestyle before beginning their family in San Angelo, Texas with the birth of their first child, Jeff. After service life was over, they moved back to the Washington D.C. area and the family doubled in size over the next 10 years with the additions of Mark, Matthew, and John. The family moved South to Athens, GA in the early 1970’s. No greater joy was hers than being a mother to and raising her four boys, no matter what colorful challenges we each presented. She always had breakfast ready for us before school with the days lunch boxes packed (one even returned from school with a guinea pig inside named Pepper). She regularly saved her perpetually procrastinating children from academic ruin by staying up all hours of the night to type our school papers. As a mom and friend, she led life with an unselfish heart and one would be hard pressed to find another person more concerned with the safety, health, and well-being of her family.

A University of Georgia retiree and true multi-sport Bulldog fan. Beyond her family, her great loves were travel, social gatherings with her friends, and leading an active lifestyle. Her travels took her to all 50 states and throughout the world to dozens of countries on almost every continent. She was a regular at the local Y.W.C.O, took up jogging in her 50’s, and played competitive tennis into her late 70’s. She particularly loved arts and crafts, could sew anything you could dream up, and was a voracious reader. She was also quite skilled in the culinary arts. Judy remained sharp-minded until her last days and lived a truly adventure filled and blessed life. Although she is no longer among us in body, her wit, her caring spirit, and her absolute love of life will live on among and through us.

She was preceded in leaving behind this earthly life by her parents Joseph and Estella Yeager, her husband Dr. Leroy C. Blankenship, and her sisters Maxine Mears and Gloria Daly. She is survived by her four sons, Dr. Jeffrey C. Blankenship (Lou), Dr. Mark H. Blankenship (Teresa), Mr. Matthew A. Blankenship (Selena), and Dr. John C. Blankenship (Amanda). She also leaves behind her beloved ten grandchildren (Jordan, Alana, Daron, Reece, Jackson, Conor, Cody, Lindsey, Kai, and Sarah), six great grandchildren (Heidi, Rhodes, Ives, Townes, and Kit), four nieces and nephews (Kurt, Eric, Dana, and Daniel). The family would like to thank the many staff and support personnel at Highland Hills Village which she called home for the last years of her life and the excellent care Jen and the entire team at Family Hospice provided in her last moments.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in her name to Reclif Community www.gagives.org/organization/Reclif-Community or Tuckston United Methodist Church, https://www.tuckston.org/give . Lord and Stephens Funeral Home (East) will handle her immediate final arrangements. 

The family will announce a Celebration and Remembrance of Life gathering on a date with location soon.

Lord & Stephens Funeral Homes, East, Athens, GA is assisting the family with the arrangements. www.lordandstephens.com