Miss Flora “Nita” Blanchard was born to the late Idell Blachard and John Payton in Gulfport. She attended Lawrence County Public School. She was a member of Rose Hill M. B. Church and later moved to Hattiesburg, and joined East Point Bible Fellowship Church in Hattiesburg. She worked at Hattiesburg Health and Rehab. She was preceded in death by his mother, Idell Blanchard; and son, Steven Funchess.

She is survived by two sons, Kenyaun Blanchard of Ridgeland, and Travorious (Whitney) Funchess of Hattiesburg; granddaughter, Nola Funchess; brother, Cleo (Julia) Blanchard of Silver Creek; sisters, Brenda Blanchard of Jackson, and Janice Bridges of Purvis; many other relatives and friends; grandmother, Mary Lena Blanchard, goddaughter, Yolanda Weathersby, LaKita Slater and Angela Thomas.