NATCHEZ – Services for Robert L. Blanton, 53, of Natchez, who died Sunday, Aug. 19, 2007, at Natchez Regional Medical Center, will be 11 a.m. Saturday at Bright Morning Star Baptist Church with the Rev. Ernest Ford officiating.

Burial will follow at Grove African Methodist Episcopal Church Cemetery under the direction of George F. West Funeral Home.

Visitation will be from 4 to 9 p.m. today at the funeral home.

Mr. Blanton was born Dec. 2, 1953, in Natchez, the son of Frank Blanton and Celia H. Blanton. He was retired from Rayborn Drilling & Construction Company.

He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Edna B. Washington and Alliner B. Hawkins.

Survivors include his loving and devoted wife, Patricia M. Blanton; children, Tanya D. Blanton and Robert L. Blanton Jr., all of Natchez; grandchildren, Jacari L. Blanton and Trevon D. Blanton, both of Natchez; sisters, Celia Banks, Inetta Barnes, Claudia Jones, Alberta Hargraves and husband, Jim, and Ruthie Tucker and husband, Archie, all of Natchez; brothers, Marvin Blanton and wife, Hannah, Charles E. Blanton, Richard Blanton and Woodrow Blanton and wife, Tina, all of Natchez and Ronald Blanton and wife, Janice, of Gloster and Roosevelt Blanton and wife, Lena, of New Orleans; sisters-in-law, Mary Lucas of Natchez, Hattie Myles and husband, James, of Baltimore, Md., Julia Williams and husband, Freddie, and Arlene Williams and husband, Robert, both of Augusta, Ga., Lynda Morgan of Baton Rouge, Carol Terrell and husband, Odell, and Charlene Hunt and husband, Kenny, all of Willingsboro, N.J.; brothers-in-law, Larry Matthews of Mobile, Ala., Wilwood Matthews and wife, Elsie, of Pensauken, N.J., James Matthews and wife, Myrna, of Natchez, and Wilson Young of Drew; and a number 19of nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives and friends.