Stephen Elisha Blackmon, Sr.

Stephen Elisha Blackmon died peacefully with family at his side at Southern Manor Senior Living on July 3, 2023.

He was the son of the Late Norma Alice Martin Blackmon and James Hines Blackmon, Sr.

Save the 29 months he served in the Navy in World War II and his college years, he lived in Washington all his life. He attended local schools, where it was noted in the annual that he was the only member of the class of 1943 who was never tardy in his entire 11 years.

In high school he sang in the choir, played French horn in the band, played football, basketball and ran track. He was a member of the 1940 football team that scored 263 points and was never scored on.

He joined the Navy and qualified for flight school, but the war was over before he finished his training. The Navy sent him to Duke University in its V-12 program, where he graduated with a commission and a B.S. degree in Naval Science in 1946. He returned to the University of Georgia and completed his Bachelor of Arts in Economics in 1947. He remained in the Naval Reserve for four years and was discharged with the rank of Lt. Junior Grade.

While at Duke he met Eleanor Wilkerson Boyd. They were married at Duke Memorial Methodist Church on June 25, 1947. They celebrated their 75th Wedding Anniversary in 2022, a few months before Eleanor’s death.

When they had been married a year, they bought their home on North Alexander Avenue and spent many years restoring it, doing much of the work themselves.

He worked at Blackmons’ Department Store for 43 years, and was co-owner with his brother James H. Blackmon, Jr. for the last 30 years. They also owned and operated a cattle farm and won a Commercial Cattlemen Award from the Georgia Cattle Association.

In August 1947, he joined the Kiwanis Club and had more than 60 years of perfect attendance. He served as president of the club in 1952, chaired almost all its committees and was active in its service projects until he was almost 90.

He was on the first Downtown Development Authority, serving as treasurer for many years. He was appointed to the Historic Preservation Commission and served a term as chair. He was longtime treasurer of the North Alexander School Association. Always supportive of his children’s activities, he was Boy Scout Cub Master and one of the first men in Northeast Georgia to join Girl Scouts.

Among his proudest service was his membership on the Bi-Racial Committee during school integration in the early 1970s. This informal group of African-American and white leaders spent many hours “talking man-to-man” according to the late Eddie Finnell, and hammering out differences. As a result of their efforts, Wilkes County Schools avoided much of the turmoil and violence that marked those years in the South.

Steve grew up as a member of First United Methodist Church in Washington where he served on the Board of Trustees, the Administrative Board and a delegate to the North Georgia Annual Conference. He sang in the choir, which Eleanor directed and was Sunday School Superintendent for many years. In their later years, he and Eleanor were active members of the Episcopal Church of the Mediator, where he served on the vestry and as Senior Warden, chaired the annual Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper and sang in the choir.

He and Eleanor were charter members of the Athens Choral Society and the Athens Master Chorale where they performed for 30 years.

Steve was preceded in death by his parents, his brother James Hines Blackmon, Jr.  and Dilmus Martin Blackmon, son-in-law Thomas Holland, and his beloved wife Eleanor. He is survived by  his sister, Norma Alice Wallace and brother E. Harris Blackmon (Glenda) of Washington; daughter Eleanor Elmira “Myra” Blackmon of Washington, Stephen Elisha Blackmon, Jr. (Evelyn) of Nashville, Phillip Boyd Blackmon (Carol) of Columbus, GA and Jeffrey Earl Blackmon (Nancy) of Littleton, CO; Grandchildren Richard Blackmon Johnson (Sarah) of Penrose, CO, Leah Kathleen Foster (Kirk) of Ft. Campbell, KY;  Bradley Martin Blackmon (Summer) of La Vergne, TN, Anna Blackmon Burnet (Derek) of Black Hawk, CO,  Benjamin Boyd Blackmon (Stefani) of Castle Rock, CO, Julia Blackmon Church (Dylan) Wheat Ridge, CO  and Jonathan Demery (Amber) of Littleton, CO and Kimberly Bolton of Jacksonville; and twelve great-grandchildren.

The family expresses its deep appreciation to the loving caregivers at Southern Manor Senior Living, and to the compassionate and kind staff of Bristol Hospice.

Memorial Contributions may be made to Wills Memorial Hospital Foundation, 120 Gordon St, Washington, GA 30673 or to Episcopal Church of the Mediator Endowment, P.O. Box 716, Washington, GA 30673

Memorial services will be  July 22, 2023 at 2 p.m. at the Episcopal Church of The Mediator. The family will receive friends from 10 a.m. until noon at 512 N. Alexander Ave, Washington.