Obituary of Mattie Blackwell

Mattie Lou Mathis Blackwell, 87, of Jackson, Mississippi, passed away Friday, May 3, 2019 at Hospice Ministries in Ridgeland, Mississippi. A visitation honoring Mrs. Blackwell will be at Natchez Trace Funeral Home in Madison, Mississippi on Monday, May 6 from3:00 pm to 4:00 pm, followed by the funeral at4:00.

Mattie was born in Carrollton, Mississippi to Charles E. Mathis and Lou Idabelle Downs Mathis. She married the love of her life, Albert D. Blackwell on August 18, 1948. They made their home in Moorhead, Mississippi where they raised their five children. They moved to Jackson in 1978. Mrs. Blackwell was an active member of Pocahontas Baptist Church. She loved to fish, sew intricate and beautiful needlework, and most of all play with her children and grandchildren. She was never too busy or too tired to play with her children and later with her grandchildren. She loved animals and could tame almost any creature brought to her. She had a green thumb and could coax any plant to thrive. She was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother.

After her children got older, Mrs. Blackwell worked in hospitals. She had a servant’s heart and happily served her patients as service to the Lord. After she moved to Jackson she worked at St. Dominic’s Hospital and retired in 1997.

Mattie was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and a son, John Wayne Blackwell. She is survived by her children, Dr. Kathleen Blackwell Jenkins and her husband, Perry of Madison, JoAnne Blackwell Vance and her husband, James of Jackson, Albert Blackwell, Jr. and his wife, Connie of Yazoo City, and Charles Blackwell and his wife, Lisa of Pearl. She leaves 11 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren. She also leaves her brother in law, David Blackwell and his wife, Betty of Rocky Face, Georgia. She will be dearly missed.