Memorial services for Phillip Loye Blount Sr., 71, of the Providence Community in Gadsden County, Fla., were held Tuesday, March 2, at Providence Baptist Church in Greensboro, Fla.

Born Nov. 17, 1938, in Tallahassee, Fla., Mr. Blount died at home with his family by his side on Feb. 27, 2010, after a lengthy battle with Multiple Myeloma.

Mr. Blount graduated from Greensboro High School in 1956 and joined the U.S. Army National Guard, serving from 1957-1962. He retired in 2003 as a sergeant with the State of Florida Department of Corrections after 25 years of service. He was also active in farming for most of his life, having grown tobacco, various row crops and operated a poultry farm enterprise. He lived all his life in Gadsden County, was a member of the Providence Baptist Church and of the Florida Farm Bureau.

He is preceded in death by his mother; and a brother, Roderick D. Blount.

Survivors include his father, Vernon DeCar Blount; his wife of 46 years, Mary Louise Betts Blount of Providence Community; a daughter, Rebekah L. Blount O’Bryan of Sawdust Community; three sons, Blaine S. Blount of Tallahassee, Fla., William S. Blount of Blountstown, Fla., and Phillip L. Blount Jr. of Jacksonville, Fla.; two brothers, Charles D. Blount of Pompano Beach, Fla., and Vernon Neal Blount of Greensboro, Fla.; six grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

Cox Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.