Bula Hames

Mrs. Bula Dell Blanchard Hames, widow of the late Robert J. Hames, completed her earthly life on Friday, Feb. 24, 2017, and went Home to be with the sweetest name she knew, Jesus. Family and friends above are rejoicing with the arrival of this beautiful lady who stored up many treasures in heaven. “Only one life, ‘twill soon be past. Only what’s done for Christ will last,” is a saying she often quoted, and she certainly lived by it. Everything she did became an act of service to her Lord Jesus Christ. We can only imagine how glorious it must have been for her to hear her Saviors loving commendation of, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.” Bula Dell was born on Aug. 5, 1920, in Butler, Tenn., daughter of the late James Conley and Mamie Edith Hagaman. At the early age of 11, she was born again into the family of God. She married Maurice Blanchard and, even though World War II was on the horizon, they left their beloved home in Tennessee and sailed for Burma as missionaries. When the Japanese invaded Burma, Maurice and Bula Dell fled amid bombs dropping all around them; she made it onto an American troop ship bound for India and he hiked out over the mountains. They miraculously reunited and, for the next 25 years, served the Indian people in the name of Christ. During those years she was a happy wife, mother, and missionary, continuously opening their home to fellow missionaries and nationals of many countries. She taught her children the joy of work, the happiness of being their own best friend, how to be resourceful and create beauty, and the pleasures of serving joyfully and caring about others. She taught them the skills to pray, think, trust God, and run to God’s Word in time of need. She home-educated their four children through the third grade at which time they went to a missionary boarding school 550 miles from home to complete their educations. Those circumstances didn’t allow her to parent in the usual sense of the word—this was an almost insurmountable personal sacrifice—but with determination and faith, she reared her children through letters in the mail. One by one their children returned to the United States for college. During her years in India, Bula Dell actively worked with women and children. She taught at the Baptist Seminary in Ramapatnam, where her husband Dr. Blanchard was president. She also served as Honorary President of the Telugu Baptist Women’s Convention. Bula Dell directed the Telugu Bible Correspondence Course in which many thousands have been enrolled through the years, and which still operates today. At the request of the Christian Literature Society of India, she wrote two children’s books in the Telugu language. Most weekends found the Blanchards involved in town and village meetings. The South Indians became their beloved people. Giving, serving, loving, caring, praying, encouraging—from the tiniest new baby to the oldest friend—was the way she lived. Upon their return to America in 1966, she became actively involved in church work in Chicago, Lookout Mountain, and Chattanooga, where she held Associational offices, organized and taught Sunday School classes, and was a WMU director and community club chaplain. Always a cultured Southern lady, those who knew her considered her to be a “love.” Within her family she consistently fostered loyalty and family unity, making home a safe-haven of comfort and unconditional love for her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She set an example of a joyful attitude as she moved through life with a thankful, gentle, grateful heart, and usually with a song to fit every occasion! She consistently lived out Deuteronomy 6:7-9, teaching her family about God when they were at home or out for a walk, at bedtime and the first thing in the morning, keeping God’s Word front and center, and intentionally passing on her faith to them. What a privilege was theirs, that she was their mother! “We rise up and called her blessed.” (Proverbs 31). In recent years, she authored a memoir of her experiences in India titled “Remembering: 25 years of God’s Faithfulness in India.” Mrs. Hames was preceded in death by her first husband, Dr. Maurice Blanchard. Some years after Dr. Blanchard’s passing, she married Mr. Robert J. Hames, a retired businessman in Chattanooga. He, too, preceded her in death. She was preceded in death by two other sisters, Lucy Wunderlich and Nell Skillington; by two brothers, Carl Hagaman and Bill Hagaman; by her sister-in-law, Sylvianee Kwast; by her stepsister-in-law, Erma Price; by one granddaughter, Cathy Dell Bass; and by one grandson, Steven Hackler. She is survived by four devoted children and their spouses, Mardi (Tom) Bass, of Macon, Ga., Carol (Charles) Hackler, of Bolingbroke, Ga., Darlene (Mike) Koiner, of Ocean View, Del., Bill (Lara) Blanchard, of Valdosta, Ga.; plus 11 grandchildren and 29 great-grandchildren. An important part of her prayer life was to remember each of her family members by name and by need, and to pray and believe that the family circle would be totally complete in Heaven. Bula Dell is survived by her sister, Virginia Perkins. The family is most grateful for the loving and dependable care of Sheila Goodwin of Sunshine Private Sittings; for the sweet care from Yvonne Singleton, her faithful Hospice caregiver; and for Shirley Lawson of Pine Pointe Hospice for the tender ministries and spiritual comfort that she so graciously offered at the time of Bula Dell’s passing. A celebration service of her life will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, Feb. 27, in the funeral home chapel with her son, Dr. Bill Blanchard, officiating the service. This will be immediately followed by a private graveside service at Hamilton Memorial Gardens. Pallbearers are Bula Dell’s sons-in-law and grandsons. In addition, a celebration service of her life will be held on Thursday, March 2, 2017, at 1 p.m., Ingleside Baptist Church, Macon, Ga., with Dr. Tim McCoy and Dr. Mark Hudgins officiating. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly suggests that memorials may be made to India Missions, c/o Northway Community Church, 3740 Inner Perimeter Road, Valdosta, Ga., 31602. Please visit www.heritagechattanooga.com to share words of comfort. The family will greet friends from 9 to 10 a.m. Monday, Feb. 27, at Heritage Funeral Home, East Brainerd Road.