Blanch Roberts Holbrook

Blanch Roberts Holbrook (1929 -2017) a wife, mother, grandmother, friend and baker, died peacefully in Marietta, GA after an extended battle with Dementia on February 1, 2017. Born February 13, 1929 in Canton, GA, she grew up in a family who earned their living at the local Cotton Mill. Leaving school to help support her family, she worked as a waitress and began to learn the art of cake decorating. She met her husband, Eddie Rommel Holbrook in 1947 at the Veterans Administration and later that year after a Christmas Party, they eloped and married on December 26. After marrying, the couple moved in with Eddie’s family and later the next year, their son Michael was born. Blanch and Eddie opened a bakery on the “Square” in Marietta naming it the Sunshine Bakery. Here, Blanch crafted her skills in baking and decorating cakes. Their family grew with the addition of a daughter, Dona and they moved to Marietta Place and then to their first house on Lakewood Drive. Blanch continued decorating cakes for friends and became more active in her Church, Crestview Baptist (now Gracepointe Baptist). Here, she put her cooking skills to work helping to cook Wednesday night dinners for her church family as well as serving alongside others preparing meals at the church for many gatherings and events. Later, their daughter, Kim was born and they moved to their last home in Whitlock Heights. Passionate, energetic and unfailingly kind, Blanch served her community, church and family with generosity and hospitality. Many say that you could never visit Blanch and Eddie without leaving with a trinket or a “to-go” container of good food. Revered for her warmth, cheerful outlook, dedication to Christ, and her excellent cooking skills, Blanch made an impact on the lives which she touched. Funeral Services will be held 11:00 a.m. Saturday, February 4th at Gracepoint Marietta Baptist Church. Interment will follow at Kennesaw Memorial Park in Marietta. The family will receive friends on Friday, February 3rd from 4:00 until 7:00 p.m. at Mayes Ward-Dobbins Funeral Home in Marietta and also one hour prior to the service Saturday at the Church. She is preceded in death by her husband of 53 years, Eddie; her mother and father, J.F. (Zip) and Mary C. Roberts; brother, Earl Roberts and sister, Pearl Ledford; and granddaughter, Callie Ayers. She is survived by her son, Michael (Peggy) Holbrook of Marietta; two daughters, Dona (Boogie) Ayers of Marietta; and Kim (Kelly) Oden of Acworth. Five grandchildren, Heather (Brian) Vansant of Auburn, AL; Josh (Alicia) Holbrook of Marietta; Katie, Sam and Sydney Oden of Acworth. Seven great-grandchildren, Mary Margaret, William and Elizabeth Vansant of Auburn, AL and Mason, John Caleb, Parker and Anna Kate Holbrook of Marietta; and sister, Irene Rich of Marietta. She also leaves behind many well-loved cousins, nieces and nephews. The family requests that in lieu of flowers donations may be sent to Gracepointe Marietta Baptist Church, 505 Atlanta Street SE, Marietta, GA 30060 or the Laona M. Kitchen Foundation at http://www.lmkfoundation.org, 125 Church Street, Ste 220, Marietta, GA 30060, who provide respite care for local caregivers of adults suffering with Alzheimer’s Disease. www.mayeswarddobbins.com 770-428-1511

Blanch Roberts Holbrook

February 13, 1929 - February 1, 2017