Kathleen "Kay" Leona Johnson Blanton

Kathleen "Kay" Leona Johnson Blanton, 85, of Savannah, Georgia and widow of Bernard Thomas "Tommy" Blanton, Jr. passed away Monday afternoon at Hospice Savannah.

Born in Washington, D.C., she was the daughter of the late Earl Cecil Johnson and Daisy Leona Almond Johnson. Kay was a lifelong member of St. James Catholic Church and worked as the librarian at St. James Catholic School, retiring after thirty years of service. She loved to read and continued to volunteer at St. James, reading to the lower school students. She also volunteered as an assistant leader of Girl Scout Troop 155. Kay had a great appreciation for all varieties of music, especially Doris Day and Cher.
She was a dedicated wife and mother who enjoyed spending time with her family, particularly her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by her sister Dorothy "Dottie" Von Waldner.

Survivors include her children, Tina Blackston (Ben), Gayle Josey (Rick), Bernard Thomas "Tommy" Blanton III (Thea); grandchildren, Leslie Owens Monson (Christian), Reagan Josey Owens (Lee), Brooke Blanton Sims (Joey), John Thomas Blanton (Bobby), Austin Richard Josey; great-grandchildren, Ford and Darby Monson, Jake Owens, Nolan, Luke, and Grier Sims; her loving caregivers of many years, Marilyn and Bobby Scott, and Ariel Briscoe.

The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 o'clock with the rosary at 7:30 Friday evening, July 7, 2023, at Gamble Funeral Service - 410 Stephenson Avenue.

The Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 1:30 Saturday afternoon, July 8, 2023, at St. James Catholic Church - 8412 Whitefield Avenue, Savannah. Interment will follow at 3 o'clock in the Greenwich section of Bonaventure Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Blanton Scholarship Fund at St. James Catholic School.