John Lesley Blackman, Sr., 94, of Old Leaksville Road, Ridgeway, VA died Wednesday, January 30, 2013 at Memorial Hospital of Martinsville/Henry County. He was born on October 23, 1918 in Whiteville, NC to the late Ernest Blackmon and Josephine Clewis Blackmon.
In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his wife, Athalene Lindsay Blackman; daughter, JoAnn Blackmon Doyle; sisters, Willa Stevens, Margaret Stevens and Mary Mauss and brothers, Earlie Blackmon, Rozier Blackmon, Albert Blackmon and Graham Blackmon.
Mr. Blackman was a member of Osborne Baptist Church, Eden, NC. He was retired from Trans Atlantic Cable, a underwater cable manufacturer and a printer for Tri-City Container and Albemarle Container in Odenton, MD.
Surviving are his son, John L. Blackmon, Jr. of Suffolk, VA; sister, Joyce Gaskin of Vero Beach, FL; brother, Thurman Blackmon of Hope Mills, NC; grandchildren, Terry W. Doyle of Edgemoor, SC, John “Jeff” Blackmon of Smithfield, VA, Nicole “Niki” Blackmon of Pasadena, MD, Jennifer D. Norris of Martinsville, VA, Lindsay Paige Hunnecutt of Suffolk, VA and Christopher R. Doyle of Ridgeway, VA; 11 great-grandchildren and 13 great-great-grandchildren.
The funeral service will be held at 12:00 noon on Saturday, February 2, 2013 at Norris Funeral Services Martinsville Chapel with Reverend William Preskitt officiating. Burial will be at Roselawn Burial Park.
Memorials may be made to the charity of the donor’s choice.
Norris Funeral Services, Inc. and Crematory, Martinsville, VA is serving the Blackman family.
Online condolences may be made at www.NorrisFuneral.com
