Mr. Lonnie Dave Blanks was born on September 29, 1950, to the late Elihue Blanks, Sr. and Robiezene Blanks in Fountain Hill, AR.  He made his transition into eternal life on Tuesday, September 15, 2020 at the Veterans' Administration Hospital in Little Rock, AR.

Lonnie was a member of Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church of Fountain Hill, AR.  He was educated at Fountain Hill High School, where he was a 1969 graduate.  After graduation, he attended Arkansas AM&N, now the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, for two years.  He was drafted into the United States Army during the Vietnam War.  He also was a Volunteer for the Army National Guard.

Upon leaving the Army, Lonnie moved his family to Los Angeles, CA.  He worked at the Los Angeles Times as a press operator, until he returned home to Fountain Hill, AR.  After his return home, he worked for Georgia Pacific in Crossett.

Lonnie was a lover of people.  He wanted everyone around him to have a good time and enjoy life.  He loved to share stories of his experiences with family and friends. Some of his greatest joys was listening to "good" (what he called any song he enjoyed) music, dancing, and his cars.  He loved working on his 1969 brown Mach 1 Mustang and 1971 gold Mach 1 Mustang.

In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his siblings, James Leon Blanks, Bonnie Jean Blanks Brown, and Barbara Ann Blanks Gathen.

A lifetime of love and memories will forever be remembered and cherished by his children, Cedric Quinton Blanks, of Mebane, NC and Yachika Yolanda Blanks, of Detroit, MI; two sisters, Rotean Sawyer, of Los Angeles, CA and Gloria Hardy (Eric), of Southfield, MI; one brother, Elihue Blanks, Jr., of Los Angeles, CA; brother in law, Thomas Gathen, of Pine Bluff, AR; five grandchildren, Damarius, DeRaja, DaJavin, and DaFaizon Blanks; two great grandchildren, Zaxon and DyShawn Blanks; a special friend, Emma Miller; and a host of devoted nieces, nephews, other family, and friends

Funeral Service will be Wednesday, September 23, 2020, 11:00 a.m., at Cromwell Funeral Home, Inc., 600 E. St. Louis Hamburg, AR, with Bro. Rick Daniel officiating.  Active Pallbearers are Willie Fred Brock, Daryle Daniels, Sr., Adam Martin, Dennis Cole, Vernon Fisher, Sr., and Anthony Watson, Sr.  Honorary Pallbearers are Melton Gaston, Thomas Gathen, Eric Hardy, Thomas Jones, Carlton Twine, Curtis Cavaness, Elihue Blanks, Jr., Marcus Graham, Myronn Hardy, David Karon Ridgell, Dwight Cavaness, and Darryl Thomas.

Visitation will be Tuesday, September 22, 2020, 5-6:30 p.m., at the funeral home.

Cromwell Funeral Home is complying with CDC and Arkansas Health Department during this COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic.  All attendees are required to wear face masks and practice social distancing.  We are committed to safely caring for our families and our staff.