Myrtle Simmons Blakely Speake

Dateline-Clinton, SC,
Myrtle Simmons Blakely Speake, age 103, a long time resident of Clinton and most recently a resident of Lila Doyle Nursing Facility, died Thursday, July 3, 2008 in Seneca, SC.
She was born in Montrose, Georgia, a daughter of the late Rozier Benjamin Simmons and Quella Rebecca Pierce Simmons.
Mrs. Speake was a graduate of Georgia State College in Milledgeville, GA., and taught in the public school system for many years. She was a member of Broad St. United Methodist Church in Clinton, SC, and served her church in many capacities through the years. She was also a member of the United Daughters of the Confederacy and the Daughters of the American Revolution.
Surviving her are one son, Gilbert Blakely and wife Mary of Cape Canaveral, FL; two daughters, Sarah Blakely Skenes and husband Ronnie of Greensboro, NC, and Louise Speake Wood and husband Jim of Clemson, SC; and one sister, Mary Helen Adams of Macon, GA.. She is also survived by eight grandchildren (Ronald Skenes, Blake Skenes, Debra Skenes Montle, Allison Blakely Kurpius, Susan Blakely, Ben Blakely, John Wood, and Rebecca Wood Phillips) and twelve great-grandchildren.
Mrs. Speake was preceded in death by two husbands, Mr. Gilbert Bennett Blakely,Sr., and Mr. James Boyd Speake, as well as two brothers, James Simmons and William L. Simmons, and two sisters, Lois Simmons and Christine Simmons Peterson.
Funeral services will be conducted Monday, July 7th, at 2:00 p.m. at Broad St. Methodist Church in Clinton with burial following in Rosemont Cemetery.
Rev. Bruce Sayre and Rev. Ben Cunningham will officiate.
The family will receive friends an hour before the service in the Cunningham Life Center at the church.
Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.grayfuneralhome.com
Gray Funeral Home of Clinton