Jacqueline "Jackie" Welchel Blanton

Jacqueline (Jackie) Blanton passed away on March 15, 2025 at age 95 from pneumonia age related conditions. Jackie was born on September 23, 1929. Jackie was predeceased by her father and mother, Ben and Opal Blanton, her brother, Benny Blanton, and her life partner, Ferman Weatherford. She is survived by her cousins Thomas Welchel, Joseph Welchel, Robert Welchel, and Caroline Tracy. She will be dearly missed by her special friends, Les and Sheila Ivie, Kathy Lovelace, Joan Shep Sheppard, Rachel Hamrick, and Betsey Wells. Emmitt and Layla will also greatly miss their adopted Grandmother. Jackie was very close to her mother’s side of her family. Her cousins, Tommy Welchel and Carolyn Welchel Tracy, have fond memories of our family get-togethers at Wade’s Restaurant in Spartanburg.

Jackie was born at the beginning of the Great Depression. Her father died unexpectedly when she was six years old from appendicitis. Her mother was eight months pregnant at the time with her brother, Benny. It was also the middle of the Great Depression. It was a very challenging time for her mother. She remembers vividly the challenges her family faced in the following difficult years. These events had a large influence on Jackie’s strong character and generosity in her adult life.

Jackie was living with her parents, Ben and Opal Blanton, on a small farm in Cherokee County, SC when her father died. Her mother sold the farm and moved with Jackie and Benny, Jackie’s new baby brother to a house in Gaffney that they had built earlier. It was here that Jackie spent her remaining childhood and early years.

Jackie attended Limestone College following graduation from Gaffney High School. She graduated from Limestone with a degree in teaching, and would later add a Master’s degree in Reading Education. Jackie began her teaching career at East Elementary in Kings Mountain, where she taught for 30 years, followed by teaching for 20 years at Grover Elementary school. Numbers alone do not begin to tell how many residents of Cleveland County had the good fortune to have been in her third grade class that she taught for fifty years. Many grandparents and parents with children of their own remember being in her third grade class.

Education was Jackie’s vocation. She taught for more than fifty years in Kings Mountain and Grover schools. She especially loved helping children learn to read. Many of the children in her classes developed a lifelong love of reading that helped their later success in school and career. She used storytelling to help her class improve their reading skills. She had a remarkable talent for reading folk tales such as Grandfather Tales and Jack Tales in the dialect where they were places. Jackie was an active member of the Cleveland County chapter of the North Carolina Retired Personnel association. She served as membership chair for many years. Jackie was a Charter Member of the Beta Chi Alpha Delta Kappa, a sorority for female educators and remained a member until her death. Jackie received many awards and citations during her career for outstanding performance in education. A plaque honoring Jackie is on the in the NC Board of Education building in Raleigh. Jackie received the Order of the Long Leaf Pine after her retirement for fifty years educating the children of Cleveland County. This is the highest honor awarded by NC governors for significant contributions to the state and their communities through their exemplary service and exceptional accomplishments.

Jacking loved to talk about cooking. She was always on watch for recipes to send to friends. An attempt was made to count the cookbooks and recipes that she had saved. This attempt was not successful as there were just too many.

Ferman Weatherford was Jackie’s best friend and partner. She greatly enjoyed the many years spent at their home in Polkville after her retirement from teaching. They enjoyed the quiet and beauty of their life in the country. Jackie enjoyed watching fireworks with Ferman at Polkville Baptist Church and going to the Mason’s Barbecue event. They enjoyed travel, especially to Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge.

Their neighbors, Les and Sheila Ivie became Jackie’s dear friends. They were a great help to Jackie after Ferman passed away, especially in her later years. She was like a second mother to Les. Her word was law – argument did not help. Jackie’s life was brightened by her long friendship with Kathy Lovelace. Kathy made Jackie a member of her family. Jackie spent many Fridays at Kathy’s house having her hair done and enjoying corn dogs in the air fryer.

Jackie was a passionate member of the Democratic Party. She was very active in promoting their goals in Cleveland County and North Carolina.

Jackie absence from our daily lives will leave a large space. Her friends will miss being able to call and share their day with her.

Jackie had a great love for children. Jackie often told the story of the visit that she and Ferman made to the Masonic Children’s Orphanage in Oxford, NC. She and Ferman gave much time and funds to support their welfare, especially those in the greatest need of help. Donations in her memory may be made to the Shriner’s Hospital Greenville, Masonic Home for Children Oxford, and St. Jude’s Children’s hospital. Improving children’s literacy was Jackie’s most valued goal. Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library to give free books to children from birth until they begin school was a very favorite charity.

Her family appreciates so much the help and kindness given to Jackie by Les and Sheila Ivie, and Kathy Lovelace and family, although words are not adequate.

Jackie’s pastor, Will Davis, and fellow church members of Polkville Baptist Church were a great consolation for her.

Thank you also to the staff at The Pancake House for making Jackie’s lunch of Texas Chicken special.

A visitation and funeral service will be held at Polkville Baptist Church on Saturday, April 5th. Visitation will begin at 1:00 and funeral service at 2:00. Graveside burial will follow.

To sign the guest book, please go to www.clevelandfuneralservices.com.

A service of Cleveland Funeral Services & Crematory, Inc.