Madelon Blackburn

ELKIN — Madelon Elizabeth Newman Blackburn passed away on March 4, 2017, at the Joan & Howard Woltz Hospice Home in Dobson. She was born in Wilkes County on Feb. 11, 1922, to Mabel and Paul Newman. Madelon was always a caregiver, leading by example as the matriarch of her family and a servant of the community. She grew up as a member of Cool Springs Baptist Church where she was a Sunday school teacher, annual Christmas Pageant director, a member of the choir, leader of the youth group, BTU, WMU and VBS. In the community, she and her husband "P'nut" were extremely involved with local Scouts, providing their home for multiple fish-fry fundraisers among other things. P'nut and Madelon were also members of the Elkin Rescue Squad. Madelon was an avid seamstress who made outfits for herself and her family and became a supervisor at Lucia, where she worked in Elkin. She was always an avid gardener who maintained three gardens at her home. For many years, she was a volunteer at Hugh Chatham Hospital, and Nursing Center. Later in life, Madelon became a member of First Baptist Church in Elkin, where she continued to serve with the Helping Hands Quilting Mission Group. Madelon was preceded in death by her husband, Walter "P'nut" Blackburn; sons, Joe (Brenda) Blackburn, Kenneth (Octavia) Blackburn; siblings, Murl Newman, Dick Newman, and Betty Blanton; grandchildren, Chris Blackburn, Amanda Blackburn, and Jessica Blackburn Broome. She is survived by siblings, Worth Newman, Ruthanne Eddleman, Katherine Self, and Sue Hoots; her sons, Johnny (Rinda) Blackburn, and Jerry (Carol) Blackburn; grandchildren, Jennifer Blackburn Bracey, Joey (Kim) Blackburn, Beth (Lee) Hinesley, Stacey (Brent) Pierce, Mitch Blackburn, Kim (Tony) Greene; as well as 12 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins from both North Carolina and Maryland. Memorial will be held Wednesday, March 8, at First Baptist Church Elkin with visitation at 1 p.m., service at 2 p.m. and graveside to follow at Cool Springs Baptist Church. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Mountain Valley Hospice and Palliative Care.