Mr. Ralph James Balkcom, age 85 of Blakely died Friday, April 21, 2006 at his residence.

Mr. Balkcom was born in Early County March 31, 1921 to the late James Cornelius Balcom and Ethel Green Balkcom. He lived all of his life in Early County and was a retired farmer and State Legislator. He was a member of the Colomokee Baptist Church where he was a deacon and also served as the church clerk of 50 years. He was a staff sergeant in the U.S. Army and attended Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in Tifton and later was selected as Baldwin Master Farmer of the Year in 1959. He was a member of Farm Bureau and served on the Board of Farm Credit, the Georgia Catteleman’s Association, the Georgia Association of Conservation District Past President, GACDS Farmer of the Year in 1949, inducted in the Hall of Fame of the Soil Conservation District Supervisor, selected by Flint River Soil and Water District Supervisors as “Conservationist of the Year” 1993 and Top Cotton producer. He was elected to the Early County Chamber of Commerce in 1976 and 1980. He was a member of Magnolia Lodge #86, Blakely Chapter #282 Order of Eastern Star, Hasan Temple Shrine Club, member of the American Legion, President of Rotary Club, President of Blakely-Early County Chamber of Commerce, Chairman of Early County Board of Education for 12 years. He was a member of Board of Directors for First State Bank, Early Memorial Hospital Board, Early County Historical Society, Chattahoochee Historical Society, Georgia Citizens Library Commission, Chairman of Community Telephone Commission, President Community Improvement Club, ASCS Advisory Commission, director of Three Notch Membership Corporation, was awarded a plaque for 37 years of service to Southwest Georgia Farm Credit (1967-2004) and a plaque for Support of Albany Association for Retarded Citizens (1986.)
He was elected into the Georgia House of Representatives December 13, 1977. While in the House, he served on the Agricultural Committee, Committee on Bank and Banking, and the Journals Committee. He also served on the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Board
Funeral services will be held Saturday, April 22 at 11 a.m. at Colomokee Baptist Church with the Rev. Fred Odom officiating. Interment followed in the church cemetery
Active pallbearers will be the grandchildren: Laura Balkcom, Allen Balkcom, Evan Balkcom, Matthew Balkcom, Brad Balkcom and Jon Balkcom.
Honorary pallbearers will be the deacons of the Colomokee Baptist Church.
Survivors include his wife, Evelyn Medlin Balkcom, Blakely; two sons, Ronnie Charles Balkcom, Abbeville, AL, Wayne James and wife, Donna, Blakely; six grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren
He was preceded in death by a sister, Jessie Mildred Balkcom.

Week of April 16, 2006