Rothell Blackledge

Rothell Blackledge, age 83, of Gulfport, died Sunday, August 20, 2006 in Gulfport. He was born in Laurel and had been a resident of Gulfport since 1952. Mr. Blackledge was a member and deacon of First Baptist Church of Gulfport where he served as 6th grade Sunday school director for many years. He was a member of the Adult # 3 Men's Sunday School Class and also a member of Baptist Builders, who went into many other states building churches. He served in the U. S.Air Force during World War II and retired from South Central Bell in 1986 after 40 years of service and was a member of Telephone Pioneers of America. He is survived by his wife, Mary T. Blackledge of Gulfport; two daughters, Bonnie Blackledge, and Rachael Grayson and her husband, Dave, all of Gulfport; a brother Charles Blackledge of Gulfport; and two grandchildren, Jeff Harrison and Michal Thornton. Visitation will be Tuesday evening, August 22, 2006 from 6 until 8:00 p.m. at Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Home, O'Neal Road , Gulfport. The funeral service is Wednesday, August 23, 2006 at 11:00 a.m. at Grace Memorial Baptist Church in Gulfport where friends may visit from 10:30 until the service. Interment will follow in Floral Hills Memorial Gardens, Gulfport. The family prefers memorials to the Building Fund of First Baptist Church or to other missions C/O First Baptist Church, 516 A Courthouse Road, Gulfport, MS 39507. View and sign register book at www.bradfordokeefe.com