A native of Cleveland County, she was the widow of the late Winfield Blackwell and the daughter of the late Hopson Lee Jenkins and Vira Bailey Jenkins.

She was a member of Pleasant Grove Baptist Church. She was employed by the Meeting Place, and in her spare time enjoyed sewing and gardening, and she also loved her kids very much.

She is survived by her sons, Rick Blackwell of Rutherford-ton and Robert Blackwell of Tryon; daughters Virginia Culbreth of Mill Spring, Reba Rhodes of Rutherfordton, Barbara Marshall of Tryon, and Terrie B. Parham of Mill Spring; and a sister, Nellie Culbreth of Rutherfordton, as well as 7 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday, April 12, 2008 at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church, with Rev. Chris Dale officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

Visitation will be from 2 to 3 p.m. Saturday prior to the service at the church.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hospice of Carolina Foothills, 130 Forest Glen Drive, Columbus, N.C. 28722.

The family is at the home of daughter Barbara Marshall.

A guest register may be found online at the website www.mcmahansfuneralhome.com

McMahan&squo;s Funeral Home of Rutherfordton is in charge of arrangements.