From Phil Jamison:

I'm sorry to report that Ralph Blizard died yesterday evening at his
home in Blountville. Ralph was born on December 5, 1918, and he would
have been 86 years old tomorrow. He enriched many of us for these many
years with his music, his friendship, his great wisdom, and his unique
insights on life. He was a musical genius and an endless promoter and
advocate of old-time music. We will miss him very much.

There will be a visitation and service for Ralph tomorrow, Sunday,
December 5, in Kingsport, TN at the Hamlett Dodson Funeral Home. The
visitation will be from 4-6 pm followed by a service at 6 pm. The
funeral home is located at 117 East Charlemont Ave. (behind the First
Broad Street United Methodist Church off Church Circle).

Directions from Asheville: Take 181 (new I-26) to the first Kingsport
exit (57B). The exit leads onto South Wilcox Dr. After about 4 lights,
pass the Eastman Credit Union (on right), go under a railroad underpass
and turn left on Sullivan St. At the second light, turn right on
Charlemont Ave. The phone number there is 423-378-3134.

On Monday there will be a graveside service at the Gunning Cemetery in
Blountville at 1 pm. (Gunning Cemetery is one exit west of exit 69 on
I-81 near the Blountville high school)

-Greg