Mr. James Robert Blake, age 77, of 43123 Churchview Road, Albemarle, NC, passed away on Thursday, October 6th, 2011 at Stanly Regional Medical Center in Albemarle, NC.  His family will receive friends at Stanly Funeral Home on Friday evening from 6 PM to 8 PM and his funeral will be at 4 PM on Saturday, October 8th, 2011 in Stanly Funeral Home's Chapel.  Rev. Mark Medlin will officiate and burial will be in Stanly Gardens of Memory with full military graveside rites.

Born April 18th, 1934 in Stanly County, NC, Mr. Blake was the son of the late Dewey Blake and Retha Thompson Blake.  He was a retired Staff Sergeant with the U.S. Army and was the recipient of the Purple Heart Metal of Honor.  He was also a member of Mt. Olive Baptist Church.

He is survived by his wife, Maggie Lucille Watkins Blake; one son, James Allen Blake of Ansonville, NC; one daughter, Joni Crowell James of Albemarle, NC; two brothers, Wayne Blake of Albemarle, NC and Melvin Blake of New London, NC; three grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.