Blanche Shrock Fields

Blanche Shrock Fields passed away Monday, April 22, 2019 at the age of 102. She is preceded in death by her husband, Burnice Oliver Fields, her daughter, Betty Fields Byars, her son-in-law, William Guy Byars and her four siblings and numerous other family members.

Blanche was born July 6, 1916 in Shrock, Mississippi to Lula Williams and Joseph Kilpatrick Shrock. Blanche is the niece and namesake of Blanche Colton Williams, noted author and educator.

Blanche received her degree in English from Mississippi State College for Women, better known as MSCW. She married Burnice Oliver Fields in 1937. In 1944, Blanche moved to Birmingham, Alabama. She was a resident of Forest Park for over 50 years. In 1995, she moved to Mountain Brook to be near her daughter, Betty Fields Byars.

Blanche was a member of Avondale United Methodist Church for over 66 years. She was a teacher of the Wesley Fellowship class for 51 years, a member of the United Methodist Women dating back to when it was called the Missionary Society when she was a child in Mississippi. She wrote the hundred year history of the historic Avondale United Methodist Church and presented it in 1987. Blanche was also an associate member of Shrock United Methodist Church, which she joined when she was twelve (12) years old.

Blanche is survived by three (3) grandchildren. Colton Byars Hawkins (Trae), William Oliver Byars (Betsy) and Samuel Clayton Byars. She also has five (5) beloved great grandchildren (Gracie, Alice, Bess, Lula and Gigi) and many nieces and nephews. We would also like to acknowledge and thank her lovely caregiver, Connie Baker.

Graveside services will be on Friday, April 26, 2019 at 11:00 o’clock at Elmwood Cemetery. Long time friend and Reverend Mack Finney will preside over her service.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Avondale United Methodist Church, 500 40th Street South, Birmingham, Alabama 35222.

An obituary cannot tell all. It can’t say she was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and friend. You have to read between the lines. And so it was with Blanche Shrock Fields who left us on April 22, 2019.