Patricia "Pat" Blackwell's Obituary
For this is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another.
This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.
If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?
Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.
1 John Chapter 3 Verse 11-24
Patricia “Pat” Ann Blackwell, 85, of Memphis, Tenn. passed away on October 8, 2022. A private graveside service with family will be held on Thursday, Oct. 13, 2022 at Memorial Park Cemetery in Memphis, Tenn. The visitation will be from 1-2 p.m. at Memorial Park Funeral Home.
Mrs. Blackwell was born Sept. 4, 1937 in Memphis, Tenn. Through good times and bad times her faith in God and in people remained constant. She never met a stranger and always sought ways to help those less fortunate. She loved her family very much - her compassion, generosity and strength served as an inspiration to all of them.
At age 14, the 1956 Southside High School graduate began working at a local drug store. The tall slender beauty also modeled in high school and later entertained as one of “Berl’s Girls” with “Mr. Music of Memphis,” Berl Olswanger. Because of her height, Pat learned to make her own clothes, including her dress for her senior prom, a “Cinderella Ball.”
After graduating high school, Pat worked in a cancer research clinic at “The Med” in downtown Memphis for a year. Other jobs while in her 20’s included being a hostess at Memphis landmark “Grisanti’s” on Airways Blvd. She then began her career as an accountant for the next 27 years with Mr. Pride Carwash, the first chain of full-service car washes in Memphis. During this time, determined to succeed at her job, she worked her way up through the company from being a cashier to becoming account supervisor for United Inns which had acquired the Mr. Pride franchise. At this point her career allowed her to travel all over the United States. Pat credited the wonderful people who mentored her and noted it took a lot of resolve and hours on her part.
Pat was married to John Blackwell for 10 years. The marriage blessed her with John’s daughters, Mona Campbell and Cindy Warren, who she loved like her own.
After leaving United Inns in 1993, Pat worked for Majestic Communications from 1994-2004 and then Tower Ventures from 2004-2015 in Memphis. She retired at age 77.
Pat was a “Memphis girl” through and through and stayed informed on local events. She enjoyed trying out new restaurants, brunches at the Peabody Hotel and going with her family to landmarks like the Orpheum Theater to see plays. She always wanted to make Christmas special for her family like taking a carriage ride in downtown Memphis to see the amazing holiday lights. Her delicious homemade dressing was a family favorite at Thanksgiving. She truly knew how to live and to love.
A hard worker all her life, Pat only retired because of her ailing heath in fighting breast cancer. Cancer never conquered her spirit. She remained optimistic and encouraging to others throughout her battle. One of her favorite passages from the Bible was 2 Timothy 4:7 – “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”
Family would like to acknowledge and thank Pat’s dedicated and caring caretakers at Methodist Hospice Residence.
Patricia leaves behind her daughters, Mona Campbell of Olive Branch, MS and Cindy Warren (Glen) of Byhalia, MS; her brother-in-law, Gerald Treadway of Cockrum, MS; her nieces, Patricia (Frank) Hardey of The Woodlands, Texas, Carol (Randy) Humphreys of Corinth, MS and Lisa (Steve) White of Hernando, MS; sister, Pam Pauley of Crenshaw, MS; grandson, John (Denise) Campbell of Olive Branch, MS; great nieces and nephews, Amber (David) Jackson of Hernando, MS, Conner Humphreys of Portland, OR, Jessica Humphreys of Corinth, MS, Joshua (Traci) White of Palmetto, FL, Melissa (Brad) Manus of Hernando, MS, Anna Humphreys of Corinth, MS, Thomas Hardey of Austin, Texas, Patrick Hardey of The Woodlands, Texas; her god-daughter, Lane Bullard of Gulf Shores, Ala.; and three great-grandchildren and nine great nieces and nephews.
Patricia was preceded in death by parents, Jessie R. and Mae Steele; her beloved sister, Rebecca Treadway; her step-sisters, Patricia Coyle and Chessie Lee Bullard; and her lifelong friend, Barbara Bullard.
In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Patricia Blackwell can be made to The American Breast Cancer Foundation or American Cancer Society.
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