Obituaries

We have come together at the call of death, an event that’s constantly occurring. A busy, and loving life came to a close when Pearlean answered the call of death on Wednesday, January 20, 2021 at 1:48 p.m.

Pearlean Blakely Britton was born in Helena, Arkansas, January 10, 1938, to the union of the late Jessie Blakely, Sr. and the late Isabel Grant (Blakely) Orange. Pearlean was an active and happy child, who loved her family.

Pearlean was educated in the Arkansas school system of the segregated south. Although there were challenges faced by all black children of this era, she graduated from Eliza Miller High School in the class 1956 and united in holy matrimony to Willie Britton in 1956. After initially working in the Helena-West Helena School District office staff, she received a Bachelor of Science and Arts Degree from University of Pine Bluff, Pine Bluff Arkansas. She continued her education at Ouachita Baptist College in Arkadelphia, Arkansas receiving her Masters. Upon graduating, she returned home and began her life-long love of teaching. She taught for 42 years in the Helena – West Helena School District. She retired in 1997 from teaching but remained very busy and active with the Phillips County Retired Teachers Association, Bowling League, New Light Baptist Church Auxiliaries, and many other organizations.

Pearlean had a strong Christian faith that had been nurtured as a child. She was a life-long member of New Light Missionary Baptist Church in Helena, Arkansas. She confessed a hope and belief in Christ under the pastorship of Reverend E.E. Franklin at a very young age. Pearl relished working in the church. She was a member of the choir, taught Sunday School, taught Vacation Bible School, was the Church secretary, and worked in many other capacities of the church.

Between her parents there were seventeen brothers and sisters: James (Erie) Blakely, Florence (Sylvester) Blakely Taylor, Pearlean Blakely Britton, Rosie Lee Blakely Ward, Jessie (Cora) Blakely, Jr., Asalean Blakely Boyd, Darlene Jones Austin, James Edward Jones (called Peter by the family), Jerry Jones, Charles (Alicia) Orange, Harry (Lillie) Orange, Harvey (Dorothy) Orange, Flowrean Orange, Lonnie Blakely, Terry Blakely, Dorothy Blakely-Rainey, and Queen Ester Blakely. With family all across the country, Pearl loved to travel. Whenever the family called, she would do her best to answer, show up, and support them. The highlight of her year would be to attend the Blakely Family Reunion each year. She attended the reunion every year until her health began to fail.

In 2017, due to her failing health, Pearl moved to Copperas Cove, Texas with her niece and nephew, Alvin and Ramona Ward Johnson. Ramona and her family provided love and care for Pearl until her untimely death.

Over the past years, Pearl endured the deaths of her parents; Mr. Jessie Blakely, Sr. and Isabel Blakely Orange, her brothers; James, Jerry, Charles, Peter, and one sister; Florence.

Pearl leaves a ton of memories to be cherished by Rosie Lee Blakely Ward, Jessie J. (Cora) Blakely, Jr., Asalean Blakely Boyd all of West Helena AR, Darlene Jones Austin of Winston-Salem NC, Harry (Lillie) Orange of Decatur GA, Harvey (Dorothy) Orange of Memphis TN, Flowrean Orange of Minneapolis MN, Lonnie (Oshuntokie) Blakely, Terry Blakely, Dorothy Blakely and Queen Ester Blakely all of Chicago IL, one aunt; Reverend Dr. Willa Grant Battle of Minneapolis Minnesota and  a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

In many years of living, she befriended many people. Her life stands out like a jewel of exquisite simplicity, and inspiring beauty; a life that was a pathway to an inspiring and peaceful journey with all of its sophistications; goaded by a mighty tailwind, hurtled by God’s angels at a velocity approaching the speed of sound that carried Pearlean to her final resting place.