Clarence Blankenship Obituary

Clarence Welzie Blankenship, 85, a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, peacefully went to be with his Lord and Savior on Thursday, March 26, 2026.

Born in Greenville, SC, he was the son of the late Troy and Ida Hammond Blankenship.

Clarence spent his life embodying compassion, service, and devotion to his family and community. He was a man of deep faith, spending 55 years as a dedicated member of Berea First Baptist Church before joining College Street Baptist Church, Walhalla, SC. His love for God and commitment to serving others were evident in all aspects of his life. Known for his gentle and kind spirit, he had a remarkable ability to bring people together and uplift those around him.

He had a successful career as a sales representative in the wholesale trade industry with Sullivan Hardware and Hughes Supply. His warm demeanor and genuine interest in others made him a cherished colleague and friend. Outside of work, he was actively involved in his community, always looking for ways to lend a helping hand.

Clarence leaves behind his loving wife of many years, Carolyn LeCroy Blankenship, as well as his devoted children, Rev. Philip Blankenship, DMin (Mikki), Lisa Kimbrough (Barry), and Neil Blankenship (Kristi). He was a proud grandfather to Ansley Patel (Vrij), Seth Blankenship (Faith Ann), Abi Blankenship, Maggie Blankenship, Kalli Blankenship, and Kai Blankenship. He was also blessed with a great-grandchild, Luca Patel, who brought additional joy to his life.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sisters, Ola Campbell, Beatrice Babb, and Lottie Mae White.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, at Thomas McAfee Funeral Homes, Northwest, Greenville, SC. A graveside service will be at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in Oconee Memorial Park, Seneca, SC.

Family and friends who are unable to attend the service can view the Livestream by clicking on the "WATCH EVENT" button located in the Services section.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to College Street Baptist Church. 401 S College St, Walhalla, SC 29691

Friends are encouraged to share their favorite memories of Clarence with the family by clicking on either the "Share a Memory" footer or the word "Tributes" in the dropdown menu.