Blanche Elizabeth Ellis Dykes was born June 30, 1923 at the family home in Ellisville, AL near Centre. And died only a few miles from that homesite on Monday, October 4, 2021. She followed her sister, Frances, as the second child of Watt Andy Ellis and Linnie Little Ellis and was joined by two more sisters and three brothers. Mrs. Dykes led a happy, joyful, and Christian childhood full of love, purpose, and the dearest of extended families: aunts, uncles, and cousins.
She attended and graduated from Cherokee County schools and in 1939, she left to attend Auburn University (API-Alabama Polytechnic Institute). At Auburn, her lifetime of kindness, love and strong values continued as she earned her degree in education, was active on campus, and a member of Chi Omega sorority. A blessing of coincidence in the form of a blind date, led to a meeting with a pharmacy student from Ashford, Alabama. H.M. (Horace Morgan) Dykes, Jr. They married September 5, 1943 and shared a long and loving life together in Ashford.
Mrs. Blanche lived her life as she had been raised, kind, generous, loving, and strong. A beloved Southern lady who gave of herself to her God, her family, her friends, and anyone who needed her. A lifelong Baptist, she was a member of Ashford First Baptist Church and the latter years of her life, she returned to the First Baptist Church of Centre. There were innumerable years of service to church committees, Sunday School classes, and many meals for any in need. Her service continued as a longtime member of the Library Board for Houston County Public Libraries, a teacher in the Ashford school, a lifetime bridge enthusiast, and any who knew her or Ashford, knew of her rose garden! Mrs Dykes loved roses, she loved sharing them, and growing them. Her garden was amazing in its varieties, sizes, colors, and glory to God beauty.
Beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, daughter, sister, aunt, friend…Mrs Dykes was all these things. She was preceded in death by her husband, H.M. (Horace Morgan) Dykes and her grandson, William H. Dykes. Surviving family includes: her sons, Horace Morgan III (Ann) Dykes of Centre and Earl Ellis (Mary Beth) Dykes of LaFayette, GA; sister, Sarah (Al) Swimmer of Lafayette, CA; grandchildren, Adam (Chelly) Dykes of Dunwoody, GA, Andrew (Kim) Dykes of Madison, Russel (Mollie) Dykes of Germantown, TN, and Margaret (Drew) Swanson of Yellow Springs, OH; great-grandchildren, Ethan, Scarlett, Madeline, Barrett, Charlotte, Avery, Will, Beau and Lena; many beloved family members and friends.
A special thank you to all of Nana’s kind and loving angels of care: Betty Adams, Monica Barnett, Nellie Barnett, Breta Covington, and Verkisha Glass. You truly blessed us all.
Thank you, Perry Funeral Home, Centre, AL for your assistance and care in helping prepare and transport our beloved Nana.
Thank you, Ward Wilson Funeral Home, Dothan, AL for the care and assistance in preparing for and welcoming Nana home with her beloved H.M.
Graveside service is Monday, October 11, 2021 at 11:00 Central at the Ashford City Cemetery, Ashford, AL.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donation may be made to the Dothan Houston County Public Library, 445 North Oates St, Dothan, AL 36303 or the First Baptist Church of Centre, ROC, 300 East Bypass, Centre, AL 35960