MCPO Melvin Lamond Blalock, USN, (Ret.), 83, of Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, husband of the late Helen Hope McCollum Blalock entered into eternal rest Tuesday, January 3, 2023. His funeral service will be held Monday, January 9, 2023, in the J. Henry Stuhr Inc., Northwoods Chapel, 2180 Greenridge Road at 10:00 am.  Interment with military honors will follow in Beaufort National Cemetery 1601 Boundary St, Beaufort, SC 29902 at 2:00 pm. The family will receive friends at J. Henry Stuhr, Inc. Northwoods Chapel at 9:00 am.

Melvin was born October 12, 1939, in Lockhart, South Carolina, the youngest of four sons of the late Earnest Wade Blalock and the late Martha Lee Sutherland. Melvin grew up in Chester SC, the orphanages in Cleveland TN, and Sevierville, TN. Upon getting out of the orphanage, he joined the US Navy and served 30 years,  (including combat service during the Vietnam War,) obtained the Rank of E-9, Master Chief Machinist Mate, and eventually retired in Charleston SC. Melvin continued to work, first in the Charleston Shipyard, and then for Mead Westvaco until his final retirement. He and his wife Helen were members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Isle of Palms and Mt Pleasant, Charleston Rifle Club, and the Elks Lodge. Melvin and his wife Helen continued to be frequent travelers in retirement.

He is survived by a daughter, Barbara Velonza Leonard of Virginia Beach, VA; two sons, Michael Scott Blalock (Samantha Wheatley Blalock) of Mount Pleasant, SC, Christopher Keir Blalock of Tampa, FL; nine grandchildren, Brittany Warren, Shannon Medved, Nicholas Gibson, Alexandra Schmidt, Madison Blalock, Connor Blalock, Morgan Blalock, Michael Blalock, Ryan Blalock; great-grandson, Elliot Schmidt; great-granddaughter, Amelia Schmidt; and brother Jerome Blalock.  In addition to his wife, Helen, and parents, he was preceded in death by two siblings, Wallace "Smokey" Blalock, and Thomas Blalock.

Flowers are always welcome; however, if you care to make a memorial in lieu of flowers, you may choose from: the United States Navy Memorial, Wounded Warriors, or any other veterans' organization you wish to support.

A memorial message may be sent to the family by visiting our website at www.jhenrystuhr.com.