Sylvia Louise Barnes Blackwood

Mrs. Sylvia Louise Barnes Blackwood, 84, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, March 12, 2025, after a five-year journey with Alzheimer's disease. Born in Davie County, Louise was the daughter of the late John and Lily Barnes. Louise served as an executive assistant for many years at Ingersoll Rand in Mocksville. She was an active member of Cooleemee United Methodist Church, where she sang in the church choir, was a teacher in the children's department, volunteered in the mustard seed ministry, and was a layperson. She was a Master Gardener, talented seamstress, and wonderful cook. She also became very involved in the Senior Games in her later years and won numerous first place awards in bowling, cornhole, and 50, 200 and 400 meter dash.

In addition to her parents, Louise was preceded in death by her husband of nearly 45 years, Grimes Flake Blackwood; sisters, Florence Trexler, Anne Cranfill, Irene Collins, Maggie Hutchins, and Margie Lowery; and a brother, Clyde Shaw.

She is survived by her children, Gina Blackwood Wicker, Kevin Flake Blackwood, and John Randall (Randy) Blackwood as well as grandsons, Matthew Bell, Zachary Webster, and Sawyer Webster.

A funeral service will be conducted at 3 p.m. Sunday, March 16, at Victory Baptist Church in Cooleemee with Rev. Shelby Harbour officiating. The family will receive friends at the church, one hour prior to the service.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to be made in honor of Sylvia Louise Blackwood to, The Alzheimer's Disease Research Fund Duke Health Development and Alumni Affairs, 300 W. Morgan St, Ste #1000 Durham, NC 27701, https://www.gifts.duke.edu/ or to, Mountain Valley Hospice, 105 N. Crutchfield St, Unit 2, Dobson, NC 27017, https://www.mtnvalleyhospice.org/ways-to-give/donate.