BLONZIE PERKINS

The angel of silence quietly whispered Blonzie’s name on Tuesday, May 31, 2022 at Red Oak Health and Rehabilitation Center.

Blonzie was the 9th of 11 children born to the parentage of Ed and Willie Ann Jones Wyrick in Stephens, Arkansas on October 8, 1927.  Blonzie confessed a hope in Christ at an early age at St. Stephens Baptist Church.  She was an astute and talented student who mastered penmanship, reading and arithmetic.

As a young woman, Blonzie’s parents sent her to Dallas to help her aunt, Lottie Jones.  This is where she first met Mack Perkins at the downtown movie theatre where they watched “Pinky”.  Following their courtship, they were married on September 6, 1949.  The happy couple soon became parents of a beautiful baby girl, Rita Ann Perkins.  In addition to Rita, Mack had a son Robert Arthur Perkins, and together they would become the caretakers of three nephews and three nieces: Sheila, Charles, James, Otto, Mary and Darlene Perkins.

Blonzie and family were faithful members of Rose Chapel Baptist Church before joining Good Street Baptist Church under the pastoral leadership of the late Rev. Dr. C.A.W. Clark.  Up until her health was challenged, Blonzie was a dutiful and active member in several ministries including the choir, Deaconess Board, Wilene Dade Missionary Society, Sisterhood, and a youth Sunday School teacher.  The Good Street family came to know and love her as a fervent, prayer warrior standing at the ready to intercede for those in need.  She diligently made sure that the sick, bereaved and those celebrating birthdays received cards and phone calls.

Blonzie was a devoted mother to Rita.  The two were best friends so you would often see them together.  They enjoyed countless hours in each other’s company at church, Delta events, at home sharing laughs over coffee, on the phone musing about their day or in the shopping mall, a favorite pastime.

Blonzie was a loving and dedicated grandmother to Raeshod.  She spent many minutes, hours and days ensuring her “Bubblehead” was an active participant in the youth activities, ministries and programs at Good Street.  Beb, as he fondly called her, was the center of Raeshod’s childhood universe and raised him to be a diligent student, gentleman and passionate advocate for the things he believed in most strongly.

Blonzie had a warm smile, hug and encouraging words for everyone she encountered.  You could count on her for a birthday or holiday phone call, reminding you that she “was just thinking about you” and ending with “Keep your hands in God’s hands” and “I love you.”

As the last living sibling, Blonzie was the matriarch of her family.  Her nieces and nephews were elated to honor and celebrate her during the 2015 Wyrick Family Reunion in Dallas. She had regular visitors at Red Oak, was surrounded with love and provided extra special care by her niece Phyllis, and her husband Steve Cooper, until her death.