Willie Cleveland Blalock
|
Willie Cleveland "Bilbo" Blalock was born 13 July 1910 in Liberty, Amite, Mississippi. He was seventh of fourteen children born to John James and Katherine DeLee McGraw Blalock. On 24 May 1928, he married Nora Lee Plemmons in Liberty, Amite, Mississippi. Nine children, six sons and three daughters were born to this marriage.
Bilbo, a nickname he was more commonly known by, had several occupations which included: farmer, well driller, carpenter, and a merchant. He owned and operated Blalock's Grocery and Blalock's Service Station for a number of years as well as Blalock's Furniture and Blalock's Washateria, all located in Liberty, Amite, Mississippi. The traits that describe Bilbo include: hard worker, concern for others, generous, and kind-hearted. He had a reputation of being a man of integrity and was well-known and respected. Bilbo and Nora had a home about two miles southeast of Liberty on the old Gillsburg Road. Five of their six sons later built homes surrounding the old home on the same road. After the death of his wife, Nora, Bilbo married Irene Lambert 4 January 1969. He died 19 July 1977 of heart failure in McComb, Pike, Mississippi. He is buried in Liberty, Amite, Mississippi in the Blalock Cemetery. |