Barbara Blackston

Barbara Hammonds Blackston was born October 29, 1941 to Loyd and Norine Hammonds in Mulkeytown, Illinois. Barbara graduated from Christopher Community High School. She married and moved to Granite City, Illinois. She is the mother of three children. Kevin {Ronda} Smith, Cedar Rapids, Iowa and Beth Ann {Bill} Kovach and Lisa {Eddie} Perigen of Granite City, Illinois. Barbara spent her professional life as an office manager in the areas of construction, HVAC and financial services. Barbara loved bowling, dancing, reading, listening to music and spending time in Bible study. She was a devout Christian. Barbara is survived by her three children, her three grandchildren, Austin Perigen, Ryan Kovach and Dehlia Smith and one great grandchild, Shia Perigen. She is also survived by her brother, Paul {Nancy} Hammonds, of Alpharetta, Georgia and many nephews, nieces, and cousins. Barbara is preceded in death by her parents, her husband, James Blackston, her sisters, Ethel Zicker and Doris Livesay and her brother, Frank Hammonds. Funeral Services will be on Thursday March 9, 2023 at 10:30 AM at the Gilbert Funeral Home in Christopher. Visitation will be on Thursday from 9:30 AM until the time of the service at 10:30 AM. Burial will be at Hammonds Cemetery in Buckner. Memorials can be made to Hammonds Family Cemetery, through Gilbert Funeral Home. The family wishes to thank Laura Robinson, her in home caregiver and ProMedica her in-home hospice for their love and care as well as the Rev Jerry Justice. Soddy Church of God, Soddy-Daisy, TN, who officiated the funeral services.