Henry Thomas Blanks, 83, known to the community as “Peewee”, was born to the late Joe and Eliza Blanks on August 9, 1939 in Shannon, Mississippi. Peewee transitioned peacefully at home with his family on Sunday, July 16, 2023. He was a member of Whitehill Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of Pastor Jeffrey Daniel. Peewee attended Carver High School where he played football and was a former member of the Verona Black Sox Baseball Team. In his spare time, he enjoyed bowling and was in the Rebelanes Hall of Fame with several 300 (perfect) bowling games. In his later years, Peewee developed a love for golf and became an avid player, outplaying his peers on any given day. He was a charter member of the “Hole-In-One Golf Club”, the only African American golf team in Tupelo, with whom he played daily until he experienced health issues. When Peewee was not bowling or golfing, he was working as a lineman supervisor at the Tupelo Water and Light Department and retired in 2000 after 25 years of service. Peewee united in wedlock to Jo Ann Berry on May 9, 1968, and to this union they had one daughter, Bridgette Wilson (Fred), and two special grandsons, Robben and Bryson, whom they helped to raise.
A service celebrating Henry’s life will be held Thursday, July 20, 2023 at 12 PM in the Sadie M. Holland Memorial Chapel at Holland Funeral Directors – Tupelo Chapel with Pastor Jeffrey Daniel officiating. The family will receive friends from 10 AM until service time Thursday at the Funeral Home.
Peewee is survived by his five daughters, Bridgette (Fred), Demetra (Carlyn), Renee (Brian), Nina, and Deidra; five sons, William, Fred (Brenda), Anthony, Bennie, and Patrick; one brother, William Blanks; a host of grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren; his caregivers, Fred Wilson, Roy Estes, Freddie Hickman, Sharon White and Summerr Redd; a special childhood friend, Ms. Gladys Knowles; and host of nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife, Jo Ann; four brothers, Clarence, Roosevelt, Ben and Nathaniel; grandson Robben Wilson; and great-grandson Qua Watkins.
