Monday, December 1, 2014

Dorothy "Dot" McCown Blackwell ~ Gone, but her dedication to public service will long be remembered

Dorothy McCown Blackwell, 95, died November 30, 2014, at her Ebenezer home after an extended illness.

Funeral services will be on Wednesday, December 3, 2014, at 2:00 p.m. at Ebenezer Baptist Church, directed by Layton-Anderson Funeral Home. The burial will follow the service in the church cemetery, followed by visitation in the Fellowship Hall.

“Miss Dot” was a lifelong Florentine. She was the daughter of the late William Jerome McCown and the late Stella Hudgins McCown.

She was pre-deceased by her son, Byrum James (Bee) Blackwell III and her brothers, William Jerome McCown, Jr., Wilmot Neville McCown and a sister, Stella Walker McCown.

Miss Dot is survived by a daughter, Cherry Blackwell Bridges, and a granddaughter, McCown Bridges Griffin and her husband, Jeffrey.
She is a 1937 graduate of Florence High School and a 1941 graduate of Winthrop College, where she served as Student Body President during her senior year. She was the Personnel Director of the Florence Air Base and Personnel Director at the Florence Manufacturing Company.

She was a stay-at-home mother for many years before becoming the first Executive Director of the Florence County Council on Aging.

Mrs Blackwell was a faithful member of Ebenezer Baptist Church for more than eighty years and was very involved in church activities until her decline in health. She was a member of the Colonial Dames of XVII Century, First Families of South Carolina, Huguenot Society of South Carolina and the Florence Research Club. She served on the Winthrop University Board of Trustees and continued to serve as Trustee Emeritus until her death.

She was appointed by Governor Richard Riley to represent South Carolina at the White House Conference on Aging in 1980. She has been honored by the Senior Citizens Association with the Dorothy Blackwell Annual Luncheon for the past 10 years. She was presented with the Palmetto Patriot award in 2005 for her dedication to public service.

Her commitment to God and family, propensity for friendships, deep love for her large circle of friends and family and ability to embrace life fully and joyfully were her legacy to all who knew her.

Memorials may be made to Ebenezer Baptist Church (524 S. Ebenezer Rd., Florence, S.C., 29501) or to a charity of your choice.

For more information you may contact:

Layton-Anderson Funeral Home 
4210 W Palmetto St
Florence, South Carolina



1 comment:

  1. God bless Miss Dot. Such a special kind and loving woman. I'm so sorry for Cherry and the family. Love her.

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