Longtime pastor Dr. Elmer “Ladell” Blanton, (85), of Kosciusko, Miss., went home to be with the Lord on October 3, 2024.
A visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., Sunday, October 6, 2024, and from 9:00 a.m. until 12: 30 p.m., Monday, October 7, 2024, both at Jordan Funeral Home. Funeral services will follow at 1:00 p.m., Monday, October 7, 2024, at Kosciusko First Baptist Church, with burial to follow at Parkway Cemetery. Dr. Luke Gardner, Rev. Gene Richardson, and Rev. James Young will be officiating the services.
He was preceded in death by his loving parents, Elmer and Netta Faye Blanton of Kosciusko, his sister, Betty Joyce Blanton Longmire, and his beloved wife, Claudette Burnside Blanton (d. 2004).
He is survived by his wife Maryella Green Rawson Blanton; children from his first marriage Jean Ann B. Warrington of Silverhill, Ala., Michael (Elizabeth) Blanton of Louisville, Miss., and Jimmy Dell (Janice) Blanton of Yazoo City, Miss.; six grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and stepdaughter Beth (Frankie) Cummins; two step-grandchildren; and two step-great-grandchildren.
Born in Kosciusko on December 12, 1938, Ladell graduated from Kosciusko High School in 1956 and married his high school sweetheart, Claudette Burnside Blanton, in 1958.
He received his bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Mississippi College in Clinton in 1961. Between February and May 1961, he worked for Baxter Laboratories in Cleveland, Miss.
He was a research chemist and manager for the Mississippi Chemical Corporation in Yazoo City from 1961-1985.
At Mississippi Chemical Corporation, he often worked abroad in England, Ireland, France, Italy, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, and Canada. During this time, he felt called to serve the Lord in ministry.
Ladell worked as a consultant for Mississippi Chemical Corporation from 1986-1990. In 1986, he began studying at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary where he graduated with a Master of Divinity in 1987.
Ladell was ordained in July 1987 at First Baptist Church in Yazoo City. He served as Student Pastor of Myette Point Baptist Mission in Franklin, La., from March 1987 to April 1988. Ladell served as pastor of First Baptist Church, Tchula, Miss., from April 1988 to December 1991. From December 1991 to March 1999, he was pastor of First Baptist Church in Foxworth, Miss. During this time, he received his Doctor of Ministry from Luther Rice Seminary in Lithonia, Ga., in 1994. From March 1999 to 2003, Ladell served as Director of Missions for Bethlehem Association and Pine Barren Association in Alabama, before returning home to Kosciusko, Miss., to serve as pastor for Springdale Baptist Church in West, Miss.
Ladell married Maryella Green Rawson in 2005. He later served as interim pastor for McCool Baptist Church in 2007 and eventually retired from North Union Baptist Church.
He is remembered by his dedication to the Lord, his brilliant mind, and his joyful sense of humor.
For online condolences, visit www.jordanfuneralhome.com.
