Betty Jane Blanton

Obituary for Betty Blanton

Betty Littlefield Blanton, former first lady of Tennessee who energetically championed many charitable and civic causes, died Friday, October 12th at Alive Hospice of Nashville following a bout with cancer.

Blanton, 77, was born in Portageville, MO to the late Henry Earl and Maxie Pearl Pettigrew Littlefield, but moved with her family to Adamsville, TN at a very young age. She graduated from high school in Adamsville and then attended Draughon's Business College for 2 years in Memphis.

She married the late Gov. Ray Blanton, a schoolteacher with family interests in road building, in 1949. She was at his side through numerous political campaigns as he successfully rose from state legislator to two term congressman to governor of Tennessee. The couple divorced shortly after he left office in 1979.

She was an active first lady who became involved in fund-raising events for the Tennessee School for the Deaf, in hosting international exchanges, and in overseeing the state's bicentennial. After Blanton left office, Betty Blanton served in a variety of jobs, ranging from operating a video store in Brentwood, to overseeing events for the state Department of Labor, to working in the state Treasurer's Office. The executive residence restoration project was very much a focus of her attention until her illness, and she was an active member of Bellevue United Methodist Church. She also loved playing golf and bridge, and was a great mom and grandmom, whose grandchildren called her "B.B."

She is survived by a daughter, Deborah Flack of Franklin, TN; two sons: David Ray Blanton and wife Angela of Franklin, TN and Paul Derek Blanton of Bellevue, TN; and four grandchildren: Amy Flack Philbrick, Jonathan Flack, Matthew Blanton and Adam Blanton.