Estell Burgess Blanding was the second of six children born to the late Rufus Burgess, Sr. and Mary McCrea Burgess on December 14, 1947, in Salters, South Carolina.

Estell completed her primary and secondary education and graduated from Blakely High School in Salters. After graduation she moved to New York, where she was employed with Saks Fifth Avenue for 38 years as a Sales Associate until her health declined.

In 1967, Estell met and then married the love of her life, Mr. Richard Blanding on August 26, 1967. Learning that he too was from a small town, St. Stephen, S.C. To this union two sons were born, and together they built a life filled with love, warmth and cherished memories.

Estell departed this life on October 2, 2024, in Manhattan, New York.

She was preceded in death by her parents and one sister, Mrs. Ida Mae Evans.

Loved ones left to cherish her memories: her husband of 57 years, Mr. Richard Blanding, Sr. of Manhattan, N.Y.; two sons, Mr. Richard Blanding, Jr. of Boca Raton, Fla. and Mr. Clide Nathaniel Blanding of New York; brothers, Rufus Burgess, Jr. (Queen) and Raymond Burgess, Sr. (Isabell); sisters, Leola Wilson (Willie) and Mary Frances Bufkin all of South Carolina; five sisters-in-law: Dorothy Blanding of St. Stephen, Eloise Smalls (Harry), Dorothy Blanding both of New Jersey, Loretta Carter (Steven) of Boston, Mass., Elizabeth Salters of Salters, S.C.; one brother-in-law James Anthony of New York; one daughter-in-law Anita M. Blanding of Jacksonville, Fla; one aunt Mary J. Scott of Midtown, N.Y.; three grandchildren, Isaiah Blanding, Xavier Blanding and Dariq Wigfall; three great-grandchildren, and a host of cousins, nieces and nephews.

A viewing will be held Friday, October 11, 2024, 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., at Gethers St. Stephen Chapel, 221 Church Road, St. Stephen, SC. A Home Going Celebration Service will be held Saturday, October 12, 2024, 11:00 a.m., at St. Mary AME Church, 5301 US Highway 521, Salters, SC. Burial will be in Tri Churches Cemetery, St. Stephen, SC.

The service will be live streamed on the funeral home's Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/gethersfh

In this time of grief, we ask that you keep the Blanding family uplifted in prayer, offering them comfort and strength as they navigate this difficult journey.