Obituary of Rodney Joe Blackwell

Funeral services for Mr. Rodney Joe Blackwell, 50, of West Monroe, LA, are scheduled for 11 a.m. Monday, December 31, 2007 at the Chapel of Golden Funeral Home with Bro. Greg Clark officiating. Interment will follow in Christ Church Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. Sunday at Golden Funeral Home. Mr. Blackwell, a telephone technician and member of Cedar Crest Southern Baptist Church (West Monroe), passed away Saturday, December 29, 2007 after a lengthy battle with pancreatic cancer. He is survived by his wife, C. Michelle Blackwell; son, Jesse C. Blackwell; mother, Shirley R. Williams; two sisters, Donna Chappell and husband Melvin of Bastrop, LA, Diane Blackwell of Bastrop, LA; brother, Kevin Blackwell and wife Shelia of Beekman, LA; mother and father in-law, Bobby and Leila Clement; sisters in-law, Angela Downs and husband Clint of Bastrop, LA, Sabrina Ruffin and fiance Shaun Evans of Oak Grove, LA, Barbara Ramsey and husband Matt of Beekman, LA; numerous nieces, nephews, and a host of other relatives and friends. Mr. Blackwell is preceded in death by his father, Hilton Blackwell; grandparents, J.E. "Bill" and Elsie Helton and father in-law, Butch Ruffin. Serving as pallbearers are: Bill Blackwell, E.C. Burt, Joe Johnson, Dana Mallett, Keith Perkins and Robbie Tarver. Honorary pallbearers are: Gene Easterling, Sammy Ederington, Shane Evans, Vincent A. Jabbia, Billy Gates, Dr. Lawrence Danna and Jason Blackwell. In lieu of flowers, a beneficiary account for Rodney has been established at Regions Bank to help off-set medical and funeral expenses.