Kenneth Harden Blake Jr., 61, of Gloucester, was called home to be with the Lord on Saturday, January 13, 2024, during the early morning hours. He was affectionately called Kenny, Bud, Bubba and Blake.
He was preceded in death by his mother and father, Teola M. Jackson Blake and Kenneth H. Blake Sr.; three special uncles, Thomas Blake, Patrick Blake and Matt Jackson; a special aunt, Louise Blake Booth and numerous other aunts, uncles and cousins.
At an early age, Kenny joined Zion Hill Baptist Church in Gloucester where he was an active member until his health declined. He was active in various ministries within the church and loved singing in various choirs, especially the Gloucester-Mathews Male Chorus. He loved the Lord and everyone that he came in contact with. He always checked on others and even strangers became a friend because he had a loving and caring heart. He was an honest man, a loving and wonderful husband, brother, uncle, relative and friend.
Kenny graduated from Gloucester High School. He worked different jobs as a youth. At the age of 17, he started working at Bill Hudgins GMC car dealership in Gloucester followed by working at Christie Chevrolet in Mathews then returning to Hudgins, working as an automotive technician, for 40 plus years.
He loved helping others whenever he could. He also loved making people laugh by imitating others and cracking jokes. He will be greatly missed by many. He is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 20 years, Jacqueline Smith Blake; one brother, Clifton Blake (Sharon) of Mathews; five sisters, Dorothy Tardy (John) and Deborah Blake of New Jersey, M. Darlean Pryor (John) and Cherry Murrell (Charles Jr.) of Gloucester and Crystal Carson (Antonio) of Hampton; one aunt, Rose W. Jackson of Philadelphia, Pa. and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, in-laws and friends.
The funeral service will be 12:00 p.m. Saturday, January 27, 2024 at Newington Baptist Church, Gloucester. Interment in Morning Glory Baptist Church Cemetery, Gloucester. The viewing will be 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Saturday at the church. Service of comfort entrusted to J.K. Redmond Funeral Home.