Minnie Lee Blackwell

Minnie Lee (Allen) Blackwell, 100, of Metropolis, passed away at 4:14 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024, at Baptist Health Paducah with her family by her side. Minnie was born on Aug 13, 1923, the daughter of James C. and Olyn Veide Allen. She married Phinis Norman Blackwell on Nov. 2, 1941, in Charleston, Missouri, and they shared 49 years of marriage when he died in 1990.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 3, at First Methodist Church of Metropolis with Rev. Ronnie Woods officiating. Burial will follow in the Masonic Cemetery.

Minnie worked for Shawnee Development Center and retired as a correctional officer from Vienna Correctional Center in 1991. She graduated from Dunbar High School Class of 1941, was a member of St. Paul AME Church, had served on the Metropolis Library Board, Massac Memorial Hospital Board, and worked with the Massac Memorial Hospital Auxiliary. Minnie was a community servant, always willing to help wherever she was needed.

Minnie is survived by her children, Norma Lee Blackwell, Patricia Ann Blackwell, Gregory Allen Blackwell and wife Valerie P. Lane, and David Kevin Blackwell and wife Audrey Armstrong Blackwell; grandchildren, Paul Norman Blackwell, Sky Lane Blackwell, and Rachel Quinn Blackwell; special nieces and nephews, Richard Curtis (Diana), Jetheda Merritt, Rodney Allen (Pam), Daryl Allen, Steve Allen; special great nieces and nephews, Aaron Curtis, Elena Van Curan, Richard Merritt, Ian Allen, Victor Allen, Jonathan Allen, Steve Allen Jr.; numerous other nieces, nephews, great and great-great nieces and nephews, special cousins, and friends.

Minnie was preceded in death by her parents, James C. and Olyn Veide Allen; her husband of 49 years, Phinis Norman Blackwell; siblings, Lynford Fields Allen, Hanford Allen, Andrew Lincoln Allen, and Virginia Catherine Curtis; and special nephew, Jeremy Allen.

Visitation will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 2, at Aikins-Farmer-Loftus-McManus Funeral Home and from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 3, at First Methodist Church in Metropolis.

Memorials may be made in Minnie's name to St. Paul AME Church, 818 Vienna Street, Metropolis, IL 62960; or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN, 38105.

Pallbearers will be Paul Blackwell, Sky Blackwell, Richard Curtis, Michel Tyson, Dwayne Wall, and Aaron Woods.

Honorary pallbearers will be Rachel Blackwell, Jetheda Merritt, Maxine Russell, Booker Blackwell, Art Long, Elmer "Jack" Pullen.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Aikins-Farmer-Loftus-McManus Funeral Home. Online condolences may be made at aikinsfarmer-millerfh.com.