Earline Blake

Earline McRae Blake, 94, passed peacefully on January 22, 2026 in the home, while in hospice care.

A Funeral Service will be held at 11:00AM Friday, January 30, 2026 at Saron Baptist Church, Ellerbe, NC The family will receive friends following the service at the church.

Earline was preceded in death by her parents, Eva and Donald McRae; her brother, Lawrence McRae; her beloved husband, Raeford Blake; her daughter, Janie Blake Mauney; and her grandson, Timothy Blake.

She is survived by her son, Tim Blake of Pekin; her granddaughters, Sarah Hancox (Jordan) of Mt. Gilead and Betty Moore (Frank) of Wilmington; and her two precious great-grandsons, Charlie and Johnny, who brought her endless joy.

Earline lived a life rooted in service to others. Whether caring for family, lending a helping hand, or quietly supporting those around her, she was always giving of herself. She was a devoted member of Saron Baptist Church, where she served faithfully as both organist and pianist, sharing her love of music with her church family.

She found joy in simple, meaningful pleasures. Gardening, farming, and cooking were among her favorite pastimes. However, her greatest passion was genealogy. Earline devoted countless hours to researching family histories, spending many days at the

Ellerbe Library, and traveling to cemeteries to help others locate the resting places of their loved ones. Her work was done with care, patience, and deep respect, resulting in thousands of pages of research that benefited not only her own family but also many families throughout Montgomery and Richmond Counties.

In her final years, Earline made her home at Lake Tillery, where she lived with her granddaughter Sarah, her husband Jordan, and her cherished dog Millie. Those years were filled with storytelling, continued genealogical work, quiet moments working on puzzles, and sharing sweet treats with Millie, even when she knew she wasn’t supposed to.

Earline will be remembered for her kindness, dedication to family, love of history, and the countless lives she touched through her service and generosity. Her legacy lives on through the stories she preserved and the family and friends she loved so deeply.

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