He’s known as a football star, but Mel Blount’s story is uniquely interesting and inspiring, and goes back to his childhood, where he was raised in poverty as the youngest of 11 children on a farm in Vidalia, Georgia. His mother, Alice Sharp Blount, lived to be 103 years-old. She lived alone until the day she died, although she was surrounded (within several hundred yards) by many of her other children. Alice Blount was a no-nonsense woman, who, along with her husband, raised their large family with a strong faith and a hard work ethic. Remarkably, Mel never suffered an injury during his long career, missing only one of the 204 games played over that time. He credits his mother for that amazing run of good health. Alice never saw her son play, and when asked about that by a reporter after his career had ended, she provided an insightful answer that still resonates with Blount to this day. Without any hesitation, Alice calmly responded, “Someone had to stay home to pray.”

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VIDALIA - Alice Sharpe Blount, 103, entered into eternal rest on July 11 ,2010 at Meadows Regional Medical Center in Vidalia, GA. She was a resident of Vidalia, GA, and Mother of Mt. Calvary Baptist Church, Alston, GA. Survived by four sons, Clinton (Ruby Nell) Blount, Isaiah (Minnie) Blount, Bobby (Louise) Blount all of Vidalia, GA, Mel (TiANDA) Blount) of Claysville, PA,; two daughters, Maude Lee (Clyde) Hall of Savannah, GA, Etta Mae Copedge of Alston, GA; host of grandchildren. Visitation will be held all day Friday at Vidalia Funeral Home. Funeral: 11 a.m., Saturday, July 17, 2010 at Mt. Calvary Baptist Church, Alston, GA. Interment: New Hope Cemetery, Vidalia, GA. Vidalia Funeral Home. Savannah Morning News July 13, 2010. Please sign our Obituary Guest Book at savannahnow.com/obituaries
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