Mavis Blankenship Martin went to be with her Lord and Savior on Friday morning (August 28, 2020). Born March 22, 1940 in Rowe, VA, she was the daughter of the late Sparrell and Meldora Whitt Blankenship. She was a graduate of Garden High School, Class of 1958. Mavis and her husband, Frank moved to Northern Virginia in the early 1960's where he worked as a carpenter and she worked as a cashier for A&P in Manassas. After early retirements, they enjoyed traveling the United States and later enjoyed traveling adventures with their grandsons. They enjoyed camping and visiting friends and family. Mavis loved to sing, cook and make others laugh. She was known for her homemade candies and baked goods. She attended Free Christian Church on Big A Mountain and was President of the Finney Senior Citizens.
Mavis was preceded in death by her husband, Frank D. Martin (2010), two great-grandchildren, Liam Christopher Martin Jessee (2010) and Raelynn Aubree Martin Jessee (2011); seven brothers: Lawson, Clifford, Eck, Arnold, Willard, Harlon and Curtis Blankenship; four sisters: Carrie Blankenship, Lona Street, Ilean Stanley and Mozelle Kampouris.
Mavis is survived by her daughter, Barbara (Steven) Jessee of Rileyville, VA; two grandsons, Steven (Bambi) Jessee of Luray, VA and Christopher Jessee of Stanley, VA; five great-grandchildren, Robert, Madison, Shena and Afton Jessee of Luray, VA and Asher Jessee of Stanley, VA; one sister Daisy (James) Burress of Abingdon, VA and brother L.D. (Marie) Blankenship of Rowe, VA along with numerous nieces and nephews and her companion and friend, David Compton of Honaker, VA.
Funeral services will be conducted at 2PM Wednesday (September 2, 2020) in the Honaker Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Edward Tiller and Rev. Mike McGlothlin officiating. Interment will follow in the Greenhills Memory Gardens at Claypool Hill, Virginia. The funeral service can be viewed live on the Honaker Funeral Home Facebook page and will remain available for 24 hours after the service.
Pallbearers will be Steven Jessee, Christopher Jessee, Dale Blankenship, Jeff Blankenship, Mark Blankenship, Michael Blankenship, Jim Blankenship, Nick Kampouris and Jamie Burress.
Members of Finney Senior Citizens will serve as honorary pallbearers.
The family will receive friends Honaker Funeral Home Tuesday, September 1, 2020 starting at 6 PM with a song service at 7 PM.
Online condolences may be made at www.honakerfuneralhome.net.