Mary Frances Merritt Youngblood

Mary Frances Merritt Youngblood, age 91, of Buford, GA passed away on Saturday, December 9, 2017.

She was preceded in death by her husband of sixty-two years, Samuel Perry Youngblood, Sr.; parents, Luther L. and Ida Stone Merritt; sisters, Ruby Deen Crider, Martrelle Wood, Nellie Nuckells; and brothers, Russell Merritt, Weldon Merritt, Cleon Merritt and Cecil Merritt. She is survived by her daughters and sons-in-law, Susan and Richard Gilbert, Suwanee, GA and Jennifer and Bryan Callaway, Elberton, GA; sons and daughters-in-law, Sammy and Julie Youngblood, Statham, GA and Kevin and Amy Youngblood, Marietta, GA; grandchildren, Tony  Gilbert, Alecia and Kristian Jackson, Sean and Sheri Gilbert, Amy Youngblood, Matt Payne, Wade and Kelley Payne, Melissa Pratt, Grant Perry Youngblood and Alec W. Youngblood; fifteen great grandchildren; one great great-grandchild; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Benjamin and Runell Youngblood, Buford, GA; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Sara and Ralph Mullinax, Buford, GA; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Mrs. Youngblood was born March 23, 1926 in Cumming, GA. She married her husband Perry Youngblood on November 27, 1947. She was a 1943 graduate of Cumming High School in Cumming, GA and a 1944 graduate of Draughon Business School in Atlanta, GA. She began her work career in 1945 – 1947 in Atlanta, GA with USA, U.S. Army Red Cross. She was honored in 1965 as the Georgia 9th Congressional District Homemaker of the Year. From 1965-1967, she worked for the Gwinnett Board of Education as a substitute teacher and from 1967 – 1991, she worked for Gwinnett Medical Center in Medical Records where she retired in 1991. She was a member of Sugar Hill Baptist Church for sixty-four years and was a charter member of Silvertones Choir at First Baptist Church of Buford.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, December 12, 2017 at 2:00 p.m. at Sugar Hill Baptist Church Chapel with Rev. Neil Strong officiating. The remains will be placed in state at the church at 12:00 noon. Interment will follow the service at Broadlawn Memorial Gardens in Buford, GA. Rev. Wayne Johnson will officiate at the graveside service. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Monday from 2:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. and from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Family and friends will meet at the church on Tuesday, December 12, 2017 prior to the funeral service.

To express condolences, please sign our online guest book at www.flaniganfuneralhome.com.  Arrangements By: Junior E. Flanigan of Flanigan Funeral Home and Crematory, Buford, GA (770) 932-1133.