Hattie “Elaine” Smith Blake, 87, daughter of the late Clinton Henry Smith and Hattie Louise Hudson Smith, departed this life on April 3, 2018, at home, surrounded by her family.
Blake was born April 27, 1930, in Berlin, Md. She received her education in the Worcester County, Md., public school system. She was married to the late George Eugene Blake, who passed away on March 8, 2013. Together they had five children, Girland, Orlando, Cornelius and Vanessa, and the late Laverne Ann Blake, who preceded them in death.
Blake was a retired production worker from the Showell (Md.) Poultry processing division. She was also very domestic around the home.
Her Christian education was received at an early age, when she was associated with various churches. At the time of her death, she was a member of the Zoar United Methodist Church in Selbyville, Del., under the leadership of the Rev. Timothy A. Duffield Sr., where she served in many auxiliaries, including Roy Moore and Senior Choir, communion stewardess, Revival and Joy Night sponsor, community outreach coordinator and more.
To her family, “Mom Elaine” was the strength and glue that held then all together. She loved gardening and singing hymns, but most importantly, she loved God and shared her wisdom and his love to all who knew her.
In addition to her parents, husband and daughter, she was preceded in death by seven siblings, Rob James Smith, Erving H. Smith, John A. Smith, Rosetta Smith-Hobbs, Frances V. Wilson, Luretta D. Purnell and Martha S. Tindley. She will be lovingly remembered by her children, Girland L. Smith and his wife, Shelly, of Frankford, Del., Orlando A. Blake and his wife, Jeannie, of Salisbury, Md., Cornelius Blake and his wife, Faye, of Rehoboth, Del., and Vanessa O. Blake of Glen Burnie, Md.; a daughter-in-law, Pearl Blake of Snow Hill, Md.; three sisters, Grace A. Gray of Salisbury, Mildred A. Handy of Frankford and Jerdeane C. Waters of Berlin, Md.; nine grandchildren, Nicole Smith, Gena Reed, Melody Taylor, Tina Blake, Inez Toppin, Anthony Blake, Alex Taylor, Justin Blake and Shaun Coston; 16 great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, extended family members and friends.
The celebration-of-life service was scheduled for April 7, 2018, at Zoar United Methodist Church, Selbyville, Del., followed by committal at Zoar Golden Acres Cemetery, Bishopville, Md., officiated by the Rev. Timothy A. Duffield Sr.