University Of Mobile Leader Dies

Alabama Mobile 53-year-old Mike Blaylock vice president for campus affairs died at home surrounded by his family after a long battle with colon cancer.

by WKRG Staff/University of Mobile

Published: Mon, December 29, 2008 - 6:32 pm CST Last Updated: Mon, December 29, 2008 - 6:34 pm CST

Mike Blaylock, the vice president for campus affairs at the University of Mobile, died Monday at his home after a long battle with colon cancer.

Blaylock joined the University of Mobile administrative staff in 1999 as vice president for institutional advancement and was named vice president for campus affairs in 2004. He has served as a motivational speaker for over 20 major league baseball and National Football League teams, as well as businesses, professional organizations, universities and churches throughout the nation.

President Dr. Mark Foley said Blaylock made an impact in the lives of students and co-workers.

"Mike believed that God had a purpose for his life, something big that he was supposed to accomplish," Foley said. "Mike and I agreed almost 10 years ago that purpose was his engagement with the University of Mobile, more specifically his engagement with the students. He loved these men and women; he loved encouraging them, he loved teaching them how to walk with God in a unique way. Mike brought an innovative mind and a passion for these students to us. He made a difference in this place that will not be forgotten and will always be appreciated."

Visitation for family and friends will be held at First Baptist North Mobile in Saraland on Thursday from 5-7 p.m. Services will be held at the same church Friday at 11 a.m. Internment will follow at Mobile Memorial Gardens. University residence halls will open Thursday at 5 p.m. for out-of-town students wishing to return to campus early in order to attend the service.

The university will hold a memorial celebration on campus Jan. 7 at 11 a.m. in H. Austill Pharr Gymnasium.

Blaylock is survived by his wife Sonya; one daughter, Ashley (Ben) Jackson of Mobile and their son, Benjamin Walker Jackson; one son, Nathan (Maggie) Blaylock of Mobile; his parents, Barbara and Bob Blaylock of Kansas City, Mo.; a sister, Jenny (Bob) Spray of Ft. Smith, Ark., and their son, Daniel Spray. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Amy Elizabeth Blaylock.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the:
Mike Blaylock Scholarship Fund
c/o The University of Mobile
5735 College Parkway
Mobile, AL 36613

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