James Edward Blackwell (Aka Shake)

James Edward Blackwell, 69, of Smithfield, NC passed away on Friday, December 13, 2013 at Johnston Memorial Hospital in Smithfield, NC
James Edward Blackwell was born to the late Melvin Dodd and Delia Blackwell on August 30, 1944 in Smithfield, NC. He departed this life Friday, December 13, 2013 at Johnston Medical Center in Smithfield, NC. Daddy attended Shiloh Christian Church as a child under the leadership of Bishop Frank Matthews, and participated in various civil rights marches with Bishop Matthews. He graduated from Johnston Central High School in 1967, prior to completing a Real Estate Course at Johnston Community College in Smithfield, NC. Though reared in Smithfield, NC, as a young man James also spent time working in New York City with his sister, while living with our Aunt Sauritha. James spent the majority of his adult life working at Johnston Memorial Hospital, Burlington Mills, and later retired from C&J Carpet in Smithfield. He married the love of his life, Betty Jewel Yarn of Smithfield, and loved her unconditionally until her death in 2001.
There were countless stories told by Daddy about many of you because you know he knew everything about everybody!! There has never been a time when we had a question about anything, about life, that he didn't have an answer to. He was a very studious man primarily because he loved to read. As a little boy my great- grandmother Sauritha would make him read multiple books during the week and write essays about all of them. It warms our heart and makes us proud to know that he held an IQ of 142; he was a man of great widsom. However, his greatest gift was LOVE!! He loved his family to life and in his own way, he also loved all of you. He was the greatest example of love that many of us have ever known. He displayed this by caring for everyone he came in contact with. Whether it was a hot meal, a bed to sleep in, a shoulder to cry on, nuggets of wisdom, or a kick in the derrière ......Daddy was your man. To us, he will forever be our "Gentle Giant"..........
Preceding him in death was his wife, Betty Jewel Blackwell, two sisters Geraldine Dublin and Lois Ann Jones, and one brother Robert Earl Sanders.
Daddy is survived by his children Keishia Yarn of Raleigh, NC, Roderick Geddie (Marietta) of Smithfield, NC, Von Jones of Elizabeth City, NC, Monica DeVaughn of Raleigh, NC, and Eboni Yarn-Prather (Darien) of the home; two uncles Frederick Dodd and Tyree Blackwell both of Smithfield, NC; two aunts Sauritha Blackwell of Smithfield, NC and Katie Dodd Williams of Washington, DC; one brother-in-law Sylvester Dublin of Selma, NC; one sister-in-law Rachel Sanders of Cheverly, MD; nine grandchildren and a host of nieces and nephews.
Funeral Service:
Saturday, December 21
1:00 PM
St Peter's Disciples Church Of Christ
1011 Massey St.
Smithfield, NC 27577
Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service.