Helen E. "Jerry" Blackburn

1925 - 2018

Jerry passed away peacefully in her home in Southside on Friday, April 13, 2018. She was 93.
She was born Helen Eugenia Leizear on Jan. 2, 1925 in Baltimore, Maryland, where she was immediately accorded the nickname Jerry on account of having an older brother named Tom. Despite a rocky start, wherein he constantly stole her baby bottle, they eventually became best friends for life. She often recounted tales of a very happy childhood. Jerry met her first and only love, Charlie, at a church dance where she insisted he get on the dance floor and would not take no for an answer. Soon thereafter, Charlie left Baltimore to serve in WWII. He demonstrated his innate good sense when he was home on leave, as he scooped her up and wed her in February of 1945. So began 65 years of happy marriage. They started a family in Baltimore then lived 14 years in Annapolis, Maryland before moving to southern Arizona. Always adventurous, she enjoyed their 36 years in the desert and became an avid fan of University of Arizona Wildcats basketball. When her Charles passed away in 2010, she moved to Southside.
Jerry was known as a fun person, jovial and quick-witted. Her life force burned strong and bright; her smile and zest for life was contagious. She was a strong and wise woman, who touched many people. Her children's friends thought that she was cool and "with it".
Jerry was a joyous member of her church. She lived and acted on her faith by being kind, gracious and welcoming to all. She loved to encourage others and her ready smile lifted their spirits. She was a very genuine person and enjoyed connecting with people. She was a talented storyteller, who used her personal stories to put people at ease and draw them out. Everyone she met she treated as a friend and she was loved by all those who knew her.
She loved to play cards and taught her children well; she played a mean hand of bridge and was never one to insult an opponent by letting them win. She was an avid birdwatcher and especially enjoyed watching those that fished in the rivers, bays, and oceans where she lived or visited. She was a salt water enthusiast and treasured any opportunity to float in the ocean. She never missed the chance to remind her children when they were small that "salt water cures what ails you" and that there was no harm in being tumbled by a breaking wave, as long as one was securely fastened into one's life preserver.
Jerry was a giving person who enjoyed volunteering throughout her life. She supported her children's activities as a Girl Scout leader, Little League scorekeeper, and choir mother, among others. She delivered MANNA meals faithfully for years in Gadsden and arranged her time so that she could visit with those she knew were lonely. MANNA was a perfect way for her to volunteer because she loved to feed people. So many of her wonderful tales were about fishing, crabbing, or gardening and the fun of sharing that food with friends.
She will be remembered as a dedicated wife, mother, and grandmother, who raised a family with unending warmth, unconditional love, a tremendous sense of humor and lots of beautiful laughter. Jerry was very proud of her children and grandchildren and was not shy about letting them know it.
Jerry was preceded in death by her husband, Charles Anders Blackburn Sr. and son, Charles Anders "Andy" Blackburn Jr.
She is survived by three children, Catherine Struntz (Michael), Amy Downing (Craig) and David (Kim); and five grandchildren, Noah and Sam Downing and Mallory, Nicole and Emily Blackburn.
A memorial service and reception will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday at The Episcopal Church of the Resurrection, 113 Brown Avenue, Rainbow City, AL 35906-3122.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Jerry's name to the Church of the Resurrection.