Matthew Blackwell

Matthew Blackwell

Jackson

I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith."

I Timothy 4:7

A Celebration of Life

Brother Matthew Blackwell was born February 4, 1931. Funeral services will be today at 11:00 at Greater Mt. Sinai M. B. Church. Burial will follow in Garden Memorial Park. He was the seventh of thirteen children born to J.C. and Minette Blackwell in Bogue Chitto, Mississippi. His siblings included: Will Blackwell, James Blackwell, John Wesley Blackwell, Nelma Blackwell Edwards, Mary Lou Blackwell Brown, Mynell Blackwell Holmes, Ghanna Blackwell, Elnora Blackwell Dorsey, William Blackwell, Levan Blackwell, Hilda Blackwell Montgomery, Velvelyn Blackwell Foster, James S. Blackwell and Murray Lee Blackwell.

Matthew attended Lincoln County Training School and went on to become a licensed Plumber and Entrepreneur. As a young man in Bogue Chitto, Matthew was an inspiration to family and friends. He taught by example that anything was possible if you worked hard and had faith. He was very much concerned that young people in the community did not have access to positive social and cultural activities. To address this need, he opened one of the first restaurants for African Americans in Bogue Chitto with "in-house" and "take out" service and a place for young people to gather and dance. He also provided movies on the weekends; first in a tent and later he built a rustic movie house. He purchased a bus, which he used to take the children on cultural trips to New Orleans, Jackson, and other places within the state.

Matthew accepted Christ at an early age and united with New Zion Union Missionary Baptist Church in Bogue Chitto. He later moved to Jackson, Mississippi where he was an active member of Progressive M. B. Church under the Pastorate of the late, Rev. L. H. Newsome; Friendship Baptist Church under the Pastorate of the late, Rev. L. H. Newsome and the late, Rev. A. L. Barnes and later joined Greater Mt. Sinai M.B. Church under the Pastorate of the late, Rev. A.L. Barnes. He was a Trustee at Greater Mt. Sinai for many years until his death and supported his church in many ways that a Christian ought.

Matthew continued his business ventures and community activism in Jackson. He began plumbing with Mr. Preston Griffin and later established the Blackwell Plumbing and Heating Company. Matthew installed plumbing in many buildings and homes across the state of Mississippi. His reputation of dependable and precise work was well known throughout the state. He owned Home Dining Room on Farish Street for many years. He had "Juke boxes" that played the old 45 records all over the city of Jackson, Copiah and Lincoln Counties.

He was active in the Civil Rights movement in the 1960's. He was a close friend and bodyguard for Medgar Wiley Evers during the Civil Rights movement. He was with Medgar Evers on the night of his unfortunate demise as noted in the book entitled "Never Too Late: A Prosecutor's Story of the Justice in the Medgar Evers Case" by Bobby Delaughter.

Matthew married LaVerne Dillon in the late 1940's and to this union three children were born: Carolyn Dianne, Matthew and Joey. In 1974, Matthew met the love of his life, Bess Crawley. After seven years of dating, they were married on August 16, 1981. Their love and devotion for each other grew over the years. They loved to travel and their travels included: Paris, France; London, England; Honolulu, Hawaii; Toronto, Canada - Niagara Falls; the Grand Canyon; Hoover Dam; Las Vegas, Nevada; Los Angeles, CA.; Orlando, FL.; Washington, DC; New York City and many other cities and states.

Matthew made his transition from this earthly tabernacle to his heavenly home on Thursday, December 3, 2015. He leaves to cherish his memories his loving and devoted wife, Bess of 34 years, his children, Carolyn Dianne Blackwell Miller, Rev. Matthew D. (Jackie) Blackwell, Joey (Terrice) Blackwell and Winston Dillon, Sr. His god-children, Sandra Taylor, Roylee (Valerie) Rhodes, Earl Redwood, Willie Harrison, Jr., Helen Daughtry and Christopher Michael (Tameekia) Lee; grandchildren: Alison (Antonio), Terrence, Ashley, Joey, Jr., Jasmine, Adrianne, Winston, Jr., LaShawn, Sadie, Markese, Maurice, Lashaunda, Terrence (Janet), Tamika (Damon) and Roinika. God-grandchildren: De Michael Lee and DeShayla Lee and 17 great- grand children; sisters, Elnora Blackwell Dorsey and Velvelyn Blackwell (E. C.) Foster; sisters-in law, Jessie Mae Blackwell and Grace Blackwell; and brother-in-law, Ellis "Pete" Brown, Sr; brothers, James S. Blackwell and Murray Lee Blackwell; and nieces, nephews, friends, many acquaintances and his beloved dog, "Sophie".

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose". Romans 8:28