Ethel Blackwell

Ethel Linnie Blackwell was born on March 2, 1931, in Oak Grove, Louisiana to her parents, Sylvester Slay and Blanche Walker Slay. She was the 5th child born in the family. She was raised surrounded by her brothers, Charles, James and her sisters, Claudine and Shirley. She received her formal education in Louisiana where she attended Cedar Grove High School. On September 29, 1946, Ethel married, Willie Blackwell. The couple first met in Oak Grove, LA. To this union, eight children, Joyce, Leon, Dinah, Carl, Pamela, Johnny Ray, Sandra and Brenda were born. The children fondly remember their mother having to raise them after their father passed away. They also remember her being a strong disciplinarian but she did it with love. She was later blessed with 22 grandchildren; 43 great grandchildren; and 23 great-great grandchildren who were an additional source of joy and pride in her life. By profession, Ethel was employed by the Denver Athletic Club as a Hostess and Waitress. She later became a Supervisor. She is remembered as being hard-working, dedicated and performed her duties with a spirit of excellence. She was also patient and understanding. A woman of faith and belief in the Lord, Ethel accepted the Lord as her personal savior at a very early age. She has been a faithful and dedicated member of Central Baptist Church in Denver for over 40 years. She joined the church under the pastoral leadership of the late Reverend W. O. Mays. She served her church and the Lord as a member of the RCR Missionary Society, serving as President, a member of the Cookie Club, the Thera Pompii Club, and the Central Baptist Choir. She truly enjoyed working in her church and sharing with her church family. She was also a member of NE Park Hill Grandparent Association for over seventeen years and the Candlelight Organization. Ethel was a fun loving woman who enjoyed life and those she encircled. In her free time, she enjoyed spending quality time with her family and friends playing bid whisk and spades. She enjoyed her visits to "The Hills" and traveling. Her closest friends, Hattie Smith, Ann Gordon, Angelia Davis, Albert Pride and Levi White will miss the camaraderie's they all shared together and the fact that she was true and trusted friend. She will be missed by all who were fortunate enough to have known this kind and wonderful lady. To know Ethel was to love her. She is preceded in death by a son, Carl H. Blackwell; her parents, Sylvester and Blanche Slay and a sister, Claudine Porter. Ethel L. Blackwell departed this life to the embrace of the Lord on February 28, 2015, in Denver, Colorado. Those left to cherish her memory and mourn her loss include her 2 sons, Leon C. (RoDoris) Blackwell, Maricopa, AZ and Johnny Ray (Eva) Blackwell, Denver; 5 daughters, Joyce A. (Willie) Joseph, San Bernardino, CA, Dinah F. (Gerald) Blackwell Graham, Denver, Pamela D. (Birble) Hallmon, Commerce City, CO, Sandra Y. Blackwell and Brenda F. Mumford both Denver; 3 brothers, Deacon James C. (Lue) Slay, Denver, Charles J. (Doris) Slay, Kansas City, Kansas, Johnny West, Oak Grove, LA; 1 sister, Shirley Blackmon, Denver; 22 grandchildren; 43 great grandchildren; 23 great-great grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins other relatives and many friends.

Funeral Home: Pipkin Braswell Funerals and Cremation - 2050 Uinta Street, Denver, Colorado
Visitation: 3/5/2015 at 4:00 PM - Pipkin Braswell Chapel of Peace - 6601 East Colfax Avenue, Denver, CO
Service: 3/6/2015 at 11:00 AM - Central Baptist Church - 2400 California Street, Denver, CO
Cemetery: 3/6/2015 - Following the Service Fairmount Cemetery - 430 South Quebec Street, Denver, CO