Raymond Henry Blanton Sr., 90, of 2718 Wilkinsville Hwy., went home to be with the Lord on Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2008, at his residence.

Born in Cherokee County, he was the husband of Beulah Spencer Blanton and son of the late Hamlet Blanton and Elizabeth Spencer Blanton. Mr. Blanton was retired from Oxford and was a member of Draytonville Baptist Church.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by a son, Raymond Blanton Jr. and wife, Delores, of Gaffney; two daughters, Elizabeth Blanton Waters and Betty Davidson and husband, Jimmy, all of Gaffney; five grandchildren; and seven great- grandchildren.

In addition to his parents, Mr. Blanton was preceded in death by two brothers, Walter Blanton and Finney Blanton, and two sisters, Eula Upchurch and Nellie Mullinax.

Services will be held Thursday at 4 p.m. at Draytonville Baptist Church with the Rev. Robert Ivey officiating. Interment will be in the church cemetery.

The family will receive friends today from 6-7 p.m. at Blakely Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Meals on Wheels, P.O. Box 1886, Gaffney, S.C. 29342.

The family is at the home.

An online guest register is available at www.blakelyfuneralhome. com.