Myrtle Blanding

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Myrtle "Mert" Blanding died Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2015, at Palmetto Health Richland in Columbia.

Born Aug. 30, 1954, in Manning, she was a daughter of Elreeda Martin Blanding and the late Alfred Blanding Sr.

She was raised and baptized in Mt. Zero Missionary Baptist Church. Although she moved to Columbia and attended Brookland Baptist Church, she still maintained her membership with Mt. Zero Missionary Baptist Church.

“Mert” was devoted daughter and always helped her mother, who was widowed very early. She traveled each year with her and they visited all 50 United States.

All the nieces and nephews knew that Aunt “Mert” had their backs. At her home, upstairs served as the off campus dorm room, a place to stay when you landed a summer job, a place to do laundry to save your money, a place to find a meal, and a place to shop for necessary essentials like soap and paper good.

She graduated as a member of the Class of 1972 from Manning High School and was a graduate of South Carolina State University with a bachelor's degree in accounting.

“Mert” was employed with Blue Cross and Blue Choice in Columbia for 38 years.

“Myrtle” was a member of the Beauty Grand Chapter, Auxiliary of the Most Worshipful Palmetto Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Ancient York Rite Masons, Prince Hall Origin, National Compact, USA. Her membership in this organization consisted of membership in Martha Chapter No. 580, Order of Eastern Star; Cleopatra Court No. 580, Heroines of Jericho; and St. Mary’s Council No. 4, Council of Crusaders.

She was preceded in death by two sisters, Audrey Nell Blanding and Sylvia McDuffie.

“Mert” is survived by her mother, Elreeda M Blanding of Manning; her companion, Roosevelt Sumter of Columbia; two sisters, Vernice (Sampson) Pearson of Manning and Bertie (James) Martin of Bay Shore, New York; three brothers, Alfred (Angelika) Blanding of Columbia, Dennis Blanding of Sumter and Arnold (Donna) Blanding of Charleston; four nieces, Iphigenia (AJ) Linen of Columbia, Marshelda Dozier of Killeen, Texas, Christina Blanding of Columbia and Audriena Blanding of Chapel Hill, North Carolina; 10 nephews, Ricky Ricardo Blanding of Sumter, Sampson Pearson Jr of Charlotte, North Carolina, Jamal (Whitney) Martin of Fayetteville, Arkansas, Minister Bertram A Martin of Bayshore, New York, John Franklin McDuffie II of Manning, Cpl. Sidney (Ranisha) McDuffie of Killeen, Alexander Blanding of Columbia, Deion and DeAnthony Blanding of Sumter and Justin Blanding of Columbia; two grand-nieces, Kaytlan and Kelsey Linen of Columbia; two grand nephews, Kierston Linen of Columbia and Conner Alan McDuffie of Killeen; two adopted nephews, Brett and Brandon Floyd; an adopted daughter, Marlena Isaac; her close friends, Etta V. Cauley and Carrie Walker; and lifetime friend Agnes Williams.

A service of remembrance will be held noon Saturday, Jan. 2, 20167, at Mt. Zero Missionary Baptist Church, 7827 Paxville Highway (S.C. 261) in Manning, where the Rev. Dr. Lucious Dixon serves as pastor. The Rev. Stanley Roy Ladson will deliver words of comfort.

The family will receive relatives and friends at the home of her mother, 4203 Silver Road in Manning.

Online condolences may be sent to Flemingdelaine@aol.com.

Fleming and DeLaine Funeral Home and Chapel of Manning is in charge of services.

www.FlemingDeLaine.com