Jacksonville - James Carl Blaylock, of Jacksonville, Texas, died peacefully at home, surrounded by his loved ones, on August 29, 2025. Funeral services are scheduled at Autry Funeral Home on Wednesday, September 3, 2025, at 10 AM with Bro. Nolan Richey and Bro. Eric Johnson officiating. Burial will follow at Jarratt Cemetery. Visitation will be held on September 2, 2025, from 6 to 8 PM at the funeral home.

James was born January 27, 1938, in Guntown, Lee County, Mississippi, the eldest son of Carl Houston Blaylock and Katie Lee (Pugh) Blaylock. He met his wife, Jo Ann (Enlow) Blaylock, while classmates at Itawamba County Agricultural High School in Fulton, Mississippi, graduating in 1957. They were married in 1962 and soon moved to Jacksonville where James attended North American Theological Seminary (Baptist Missionary Association Theological Seminary). They were blessed with two children, Jacquelyn Ann and John Thomas. Jo Ann worked as a registered nurse at Nan Travis Hospital and preceded James in death in March 2025. Residents of Jacksonville for 63 years, they most recently held membership at First Baptist Church.

A devoted minister, James surrendered to the gospel ministry in 1960. He was licensed by Shady Grove Baptist Church, Laurel, Mississippi and ordained by First Baptist Church, Jacksonville, in 1962. His pastorates included four churches: Pleasant Baptist Church, Bedias, Texas ('62-'64), Buena Vista Baptist Church, Timpson, Texas ('64-'70), First Baptist Church, Maydelle, Texas ('70-'86), and Corinth Baptist Church, Jacksonville, Texas ('86-'18). During his ministry, he baptized 112 believers and officiated 415 funerals.

James was also deeply dedicated to theological education and scholarship. He earned an Associate of Arts from Southeastern Baptist College in Laurel, Mississippi ('62), along with a Bachelor of Theology ('64), a Master of Religious Education ('77), and an Honorary Doctor of Divinity ('11) from the BMA Seminary. He also completed a Bachelor of Arts from Texas Eastern University (University of Texas at Tyler) ('76) and a Master of Library Science from Texas A&M Commerce (East Texas A&M University ('80).

James started working in the Kellar Library while attending the BMA Seminary and eventually became its director. Serving for 52 years, he helped build the library's book collection to over 80,000 volumes. In 1968 he began working for Baptist News Service, a department of the BMA of America, also becoming its director. In this position, he tirelessly published and maintained an annual directory of the churches for the BMA of America ('68-'98). Ken and Barbara Larson of Minnesota donated a Sefer Torah Scroll to BMA Seminary in 2016. They gifted the scroll so that students in theology and ministerial studies could view the original Word of God. In honor of James Blaylock's service, the BMA seminary named the scroll The Blaylock Sefer Torah Scroll.

James also held membership in the American Theological Library Association, the Texas State Theological Library Association, and the Texas Forest Trail Library Association. In addition, the local Cherokee Baptist Association elected him as clerk-treasurer for 19 years ('92-'10).

Outside of ministry and academics, James enjoyed photography, researching his ancestry, and cultivating his flower beds. He also cherished annual family summer vacations to North Mississippi to spend time with family. Always compassionate, he made nine annual mission trips with Jo Ann to Honduras, sponsored by Harrisburg Baptist Church, Tupelo.

James was preceded in death by his wife, parents, brother, Archie (Virginia) Blaylock, and grandparents, James Houston and Elma (Tallant) Blaylock and James Thomas and Lula (Lovvorn) Pugh.

He is survived by his daughter, Jacquelyn Ann (Dr. Jeffrey) Bryan of Lebanon, Ohio; his son, John Thomas (Holly) Blaylock of Jacksonville; his five grandchildren, 1st Lt. David (Dalal) Bryan of Puyallup, Washington, Laura (Rev. Jerry David) Hall of Swannanoa, North Carolina, Wende (Capt. Aaron) Woolard of Fort Polk, Louisiana; Harrison Blaylock and Jackson Blaylock of Jacksonville. He is also survived by five great-grandchildren: Stanley, Bennett and Jocelyn Hall, Michael Bryan, and Wesley Woolard, and a host of nieces, nephews, and cousins.

The family extends its heartfelt thanks to the special caregivers of The Hospice of East Texas, Dr. James Low, and DeSandra Porter for their loving compassion.

Honoring James as honorary pallbearers are the current and former faculty and staff of the BMA Seminary.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that memorial contributions be made to one of the following organizations that held special meaning:

∙Baptist Missionary Association Theological Seminary located in Jacksonville, Texas

∙First Baptist Church of Jacksonville, Texas

∙The Hospice of East Texas

Your generosity will honor their legacy and support causes close to their heart.