James Carl Blaylock, 87 of Jacksonville, Texas, passed away Aug. 29. He surrendered to the gospel ministry in 1960 and was licensed by Shady Grove Baptist Church in Laurel, Miss. He was ordained by First Baptist Church in Jacksonville, Texas, in 1962. His pastorates included four Texas churches: Pleasant Baptist Church in Bedias, Buena Vista Baptist Church in Timpson, First Baptist Church in Maydelle and Corinth Baptist Church in Jacksonville. During his ministry, he baptized 112 believers and officiated 415 funerals. At the time of his death, he was a member of First Baptist Church in Jacksonville.
He was also deeply dedicated to theological education and scholarship. He earned an Associate of Arts from Southeastern Baptist College in Laurel, Miss., along with a Bachelor of Theology, a Master of Religious Education and an Honorary Doctor of Divinity from BMA Seminary. He also completed a Bachelor of Arts from Texas Eastern University (University of Texas at Tyler) and a Master of Library Science from East Texas A&M Commerce.
He started working in the Kellar Library while attending the BMA Seminary and eventually became its director. Serving for 52 years, he helped build the library’s book collection to over 80,000 volumes. In 1968, he began working for the Baptist News Service, a department of the BMA of America, also becoming its director (1968-1998). In this position, he tirelessly published and maintained an annual directory of the churches for the BMA of America. Ken and Barbara Larson of Minnesota donated a Sefer Torah Scroll to BMA Seminary in 2016. They gifted the scroll so students in theology and ministerial studies could view the original Word of God. In honor of James Blaylock’s service, the BMA seminary named the scroll The Blaylock Sefer Torah Scroll.
James also held membership in the American Theological Library Association, the Texas State Theological Library Association and the Texas Forest Trail Library Association. In addition, the local Cherokee Baptist Association elected him as clerk-treasurer for 19 years (1992-2010).
Outside of ministry and academics, James enjoyed photography, researching his ancestry and cultivating his flower beds. He made nine annual mission trips to Honduras sponsored by Harrisburg Baptist Church in Tupelo with Jo Ann, his wife of nearly 63 years, who passed away in March of this year.
He is survived by: a daughter, Jacquelyn Ann (Dr. Jeffrey) Bryan of Lebanon, Ohio; a son, John Thomas (Holly) Blaylock of Jacksonville; five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that memorial contributions be made to one of the following organizations that held special meaning:
• Baptist Missionary Association Theological Seminary, 1530 E. Pine St., Jacksonville, Texas 75766 or bmats.edu/donate.
• First Baptist Church of Jacksonville, Texas, 210 Philip St., Jacksonville, Texas 75766.
• The Hospice of East Texas, 4111 University Blvd., Tyler, Texas 75701 or hospiceofeasttexas.org/giving/memory.
Funeral services were held at Autry Funeral Home on Sept. 3 with Nolan Richey and Eric Johnson officiating. Burial followed at Jarratt Cemetery under the direction of Autry Funeral Home (autryfuneralhome.com).