Joseph Edwards Blackwell

Joseph Edwards Blackwell, Sr. of Ashburn, Georgia died on June 16, 2008, at his residence. Funeral services will be held Thursday, June 19, 2008 at 3 P.M. at Ashburn First United Methodist church with Rev. Richard Newton officiating. Interment will follow at Rose Hill Cemetery. Visitation will be held at Perry Funeral Home Wednesday, June 18th from 6:00-7:30 P.M.

Mr. Blackwell was born in Manning, South Carolina on September 22, 1919, son of the late William Thomas and Carrie Edwards Blackwell. Joe was affectionately called “Blackwell” by his faithful wife of 64 years Mary Quinn Blackwell. He was a member of Ashburn First United Methodist Church for 70 years.

Mr. Blackwell graduated from Ashburn High School in 1935 and attended Beaver Falls College in Pennsylvania He served in the United States Army and was a WWII veteran after having served in Field Artillery in General George Patton’s 3rd Army in the European theater.

After military service, Mr. and Mrs. Blackwell lived in Charleston, South Carolina for 3 years and in 1949, moved to Ashburn to live with and care for his Aunt Zula Blackwell Cantey who died in 1957. Mr. Blackwell had a varied career. He was the owner and lead mechanic of Motor Tune Up Service from 1951-1957. He later worked in the sales and application of insulation and weather stripping, roofing materials, equipment lubricants, and sales and repair of peanut dryers and other farm equipment.

In his later years, Mr. Blackwell enjoyed spending time with his family, bird watching, and repairing things for family members and friends. Mr. Blackwell will be remembered for his sense of humor, his mechanical ability and ingenuity, his enjoyment in helping others, and his amazing endurance and perseverance in his battle with chronic health issues.

Survivors include his wife, Mary Quinn Blackwell of Ashburn; one son, Joseph Edwards, Jr. and wife Lucy Johnston Blackwell of Woodstock, Georgia, two daughters; Mary Blackwell Denham and Rachel Blackwell Flake and husband David all of Ashburn; six grandchildren; William Joseph Blackwell and wife Megan of Boston, Massachusetts, Michael David Moore and wife Stacey of Ashburn, Stephen Johnston Blackwell of Newport Beach, California, CW3 Thomas Kendrick Moore stationed at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, Laura Caroline Flake of Ashburn and Elizabeth Ann Blackwell of Columbia, South Carolina; and one great-grandson, David Logan Moore of Ashburn.

Mr. Blackwell was preceded in death by his sister, Mildred Elizabeth Blackwell and his brother, William Thomas Blackwell.