Patricia Blaylock
Patricia “Tricia” Blaylock (née McBroom), 72, of Hillsborough, NC, passed away at home on September 19, 2026, following an unexpected diagnosis of stage IV lung cancer. She was surrounded by her children and her loving husband, James “Tommy” Blaylock.
Born September 20, 1953, Tricia was the youngest daughter of William “Bill” McBroom and Doris (née Kiger) McBroom. She was raised in northern Durham and graduated from Northern High School in 1971. She spent her career serving the people of Durham through her work with Durham County Social Services, where her care, dedication, and commitment to helping others touched countless lives.
Tricia was, above all else, full of life. She loved music and dancing, the outdoors, family gatherings, good stories, and being silly. She loved camping at Kerr Lake, spending time along the North Carolina coast, visiting historical places, and hiking along the Eno River. She had a wonderful sense of humor and a gift for making people laugh.
She was a devoted mother and grandmother. Tricia raised her children, Callie (née Walton) McBroom and Danie Waltonl, with an unwavering belief in the importance of family. She taught them to use their imaginations, enjoy the outdoors, dance like nobody was watching, and—most importantly—to laugh and be silly.
In 1983, Tricia reconnected with her former Northern High School classmate, James “Tommy” Blaylock. Both were single parents of two children, and together they created a blended family that grew into something much larger than the four children they brought together. They married in 1988 and spent 38 years building a life, a home, and a family together. They loved traveling when they could, and spending time with family and friends.
Tricia and Tommy also believed that the family could continue to grow. Former spouses and longtime family connections remained welcome in their home and at family gatherings. Their ability to make room for people, even when relationships had changed, reflected Tricia's generous heart and her belief that love and family do not always fit neatly into traditional definitions.
Tricia knew how to keep going when life became difficult. She was a breast cancer survivor and survived a massive heart attack, both in her early 40s. Through the many challenges life brought her, she continued to find ways to love, laugh, and show up for the people who mattered most.
One of her greatest joys was being “MawMaw.” She loved her grandchildren with her whole heart and never missed an opportunity to get in the car and drive to see them when they were little, simply because she wanted to spend time with them. Her grandchildren knew how deeply she loved them, and being part of their lives was one of the great joys of hers.
Tricia loved roses and hummingbirds, and they will forever be special symbols of her to those who knew and loved her. She brought beauty, energy, laughter, and love into the lives around her, and her family will carry those gifts forward.
Tricia is survived by her loving husband, James “Tommy” Blaylock of Hillsborough, NC; her children, Callie McBroom (Bill) of Hillsborough, NC, and Daniel Walton of Hillsborough, NC; stepchildren, Krystal Clonch (Bud) of Mooresville, NC, and Brandy Blaylock of Hillsborough, NC; grandchildren, Jacob “Jake” McBroom of Rochester, MN; Natalie McBroom of Hillsborough, NC; Abbigail “Abbi” Walton of Hillsborough, NC; Cameron “Cam” Clonch (Taylor) of Mooresville, NC; Corbin Clonch of Mooresville, NC; Caigan Clonch of Mooresville, NC; and Hope Terrell of Hillsborough, NC; her sister, Carolyn Wheeler (née McBroom) of Rougemont, NC; a favorite niece and nephew, Melissa Poole (Kevin) of Rougemont, NC, and Brian Wheeler of Graham, NC; and loving relatives, friends, and neighbors who have shown up and generously loved on her and her family during these last few weeks.
She was preceded in death by her parents, William and Doris McBroom; cousins Richard “Ricky” Kiger and Gloria (née McBroom) Wilkerson; brother-in-law Ronald “Ronnie” Wheeler; first husband and lifelong friend Donald “Donnie” Walton; and best friend Marilyn Greenway.
A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date so that family and friends may gather to share memories, photographs, food, laughter, and stories about Tricia.
The family is deeply grateful to the many people who cared for Tricia and supported her family during her final weeks, including Medi Home Health and Hospice, Duke Regional Hospital, City of Oaks Funeral and Cremation Services, and the countless friends, neighbors, and loved ones who offered food, cards, prayers, kindness, and support.
Tricia's family hopes that her memory will continue to live on in the simple things she loved: a rose in bloom, a hummingbird hovering nearby, music playing loudly, laughter around a table, children playing outside, and family gathered together.
And if you see a rose blooming or a hummingbird hovering nearby, pause for just a moment and think of Tricia.