1940
Doris
2023
Doris Marie W. Blackwell
October 5, 1940 — June 7, 2023
Doris Marie (Williford) Blackwell passed away Wednesday, June 7, 2023 at Jackson Madison County General Hospital surrounded by love, prayers and many loved ones who selfishly wished her soul to stay here.
She was 82 years young. Marie was born on Saturday, October 5, 1940; the second daughter of Marwen and Mary Elna (Kolwyck) Williford. Marie graduated from Medina High School in 1958. She attended Union University and West Tennessee Business College before joining the Soil Conservation Service.
Following her retirement, she served as the secretary/treasurer for Parkview Baptist Church where she was a member, as well as a Sunday School teacher for numerous age groups, for multiple decades. Throughout her life, Marie was a daughter, a sister, a cotton picker, an aunt, a cousin, a wife, a mother, and a grandmother. Some of Marie’s attributes included a healer, a cook, maid, and a chauffeur. She was Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy, and she served as a birthday wish fulfillment provider, the banker, confidant, counselor, encourager, comforter. She was the glue that held our family together. She was our rock and our source of strength. A grandmother, a world traveler, an animal lover, a breast cancer survivor, a reader, a singer, a dancer, an estate sale browser (and occasional buyer), a gift giver, a student, a teacher, a neighbor, a server, a volunteer, a caregiver, a fierce friend, and an outstanding and devoted Christian example.
Marie was preceded in death by her parents Marwen and Elna Williford, her sister Lyndall Martin and her grandsons, Noah Christopher, and Zachary Turner. Marie is survived by Bobby Joe Blackwell, her husband of 60 years (married February 17, 1963); Lori (Blackwell) Freeman (daughter) and her husband Steve Freeman and their children Colton Brooks Freeman (his wife Hope) and Kacie Marie Freeman; Gavin Blackwell (son) and his children Stella Blue Blackwell and McKenzie Rain Blackwell.
SERVICE: Marie’s visitation will be held at 11:00AM at the Arrington Funeral Directors (148 W. University Parkway, Jackson, TN, 38305). The funeral service will be held on Monday, June 12, 2023 at noon. The funeral service will be followed by a graveside burial ceremony at Ridgecrest Cemetery (200 Ridgecrest Road, Jackson, TN, 38305).
Marie loved to look and smell beautiful flowers, but never liked people buying them for her. If it is your wish to send flowers and support hard working florists, that would be appreciated; however, if you want to pick some wildflowers (or some you grew in your own garden) to place on her grave, we think she would have enjoyed them just as much. Above all, we think Marie would have loved for people to provide a donation to their church or to the American Cancer Society: give a bible to a prisoner; give a meal to a homeless person…simply performing any random act of kindness in Marie’s memory would be the perfect way to honor her beautiful soul.
Arrington Funeral Directors, 148 W. University Parkway, Jackson, TN 38305 731.668.1111 ww.arringtnfuneralgroup.com Facebook/Arrington Funeral Directors.
“Pre Planning Just Makes Sense” information:
https://www.arringtonfuneralgroup.com/plan-ahead/
She was 82 years young. Marie was born on Saturday, October 5, 1940; the second daughter of Marwen and Mary Elna (Kolwyck) Williford. Marie graduated from Medina High School in 1958. She attended Union University and West Tennessee Business College before joining the Soil Conservation Service.
Following her retirement, she served as the secretary/treasurer for Parkview Baptist Church where she was a member, as well as a Sunday School teacher for numerous age groups, for multiple decades. Throughout her life, Marie was a daughter, a sister, a cotton picker, an aunt, a cousin, a wife, a mother, and a grandmother. Some of Marie’s attributes included a healer, a cook, maid, and a chauffeur. She was Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy, and she served as a birthday wish fulfillment provider, the banker, confidant, counselor, encourager, comforter. She was the glue that held our family together. She was our rock and our source of strength. A grandmother, a world traveler, an animal lover, a breast cancer survivor, a reader, a singer, a dancer, an estate sale browser (and occasional buyer), a gift giver, a student, a teacher, a neighbor, a server, a volunteer, a caregiver, a fierce friend, and an outstanding and devoted Christian example.
Marie was preceded in death by her parents Marwen and Elna Williford, her sister Lyndall Martin and her grandsons, Noah Christopher, and Zachary Turner. Marie is survived by Bobby Joe Blackwell, her husband of 60 years (married February 17, 1963); Lori (Blackwell) Freeman (daughter) and her husband Steve Freeman and their children Colton Brooks Freeman (his wife Hope) and Kacie Marie Freeman; Gavin Blackwell (son) and his children Stella Blue Blackwell and McKenzie Rain Blackwell.
SERVICE: Marie’s visitation will be held at 11:00AM at the Arrington Funeral Directors (148 W. University Parkway, Jackson, TN, 38305). The funeral service will be held on Monday, June 12, 2023 at noon. The funeral service will be followed by a graveside burial ceremony at Ridgecrest Cemetery (200 Ridgecrest Road, Jackson, TN, 38305).
Marie loved to look and smell beautiful flowers, but never liked people buying them for her. If it is your wish to send flowers and support hard working florists, that would be appreciated; however, if you want to pick some wildflowers (or some you grew in your own garden) to place on her grave, we think she would have enjoyed them just as much. Above all, we think Marie would have loved for people to provide a donation to their church or to the American Cancer Society: give a bible to a prisoner; give a meal to a homeless person…simply performing any random act of kindness in Marie’s memory would be the perfect way to honor her beautiful soul.
Arrington Funeral Directors, 148 W. University Parkway, Jackson, TN 38305 731.668.1111 ww.arringtnfuneralgroup.com Facebook/Arrington Funeral Directors.
“Pre Planning Just Makes Sense” information:
https://www.arringtonfuneralgroup.com/plan-ahead/
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Doris Marie W. Blackwell, please visit our flower store.
Service Schedule
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Visitation
Monday, June 12, 2023
11:00am - 12:00 pm (Central time)
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