Jean Blair

Mary Jean Williams Blair (Jean) died on Saturday, October 24, 2026, in Raymond, MS. Funeral services will be at 10:00 am, Friday, October 30, 2026, at Clinton Methodist Church in Clinton, MS, with burial in Roseland Cemetery in Hattiesburg, MS.

Ms. Blair was born in Picayune, MS, on March 23, 1930 to Earl and Eva Pearl William. The family moved to Hattiesburg, MS in 1935. She graduated from Hattiesburg High School in 1948. In 1951 she received a BS teaching degree in Home Economics from the University of Southern Mississippi. After a year of teaching Home Economics in Lucedale, MS, she married John Robert Blair of Hattiesburg. During the Korean War, while John was stationed at Fort Knox, KY, she taught in Elizabeth Town and Howe Valley, KY. Before moving to Clinton, MS in 1962 for John to teach at Mississippi College, they resided in Oxford, MS and Oak Ridge, TN. While living in Clinton, she worked for Sears in the domestic department for several years and for a greeting card company called Dear Cards for 9 years.

After she and John retired, they pursued their great love of traveling to the nation’s many natural wonders, primarily the national parks.

She was a long-time member of Clinton Methodist Church. She served on the church board as a member of the finance committee for many years, and at one time was a 5th grade Sunday school class teacher. During these years she was first a member of the Fellowship Sunday School Class, and later a member of the Good News Class.

Her many interests included traveling, camping, arrowhead hunting, and all kind of handcrafts, such as quilting, knitting, crocheting, and sewing.

Survivors are her husband of 74 years, Dr, John R. Blair; sons, John Robert Blair, Jr. and wife Sandra of Utica, MS, and Kenneth Earl Blair of Clinton, MS; daughter Linda Jean Jones of Clinton, MS; grandchildren, John Lewis and David Blair, and Lindsey and Cody McFarland; and nephew, Stephen Blair of Corinth, MS.