Birth Date: 12/07/1937
Deceased Date: 10/05/2023
Lena “Jane” Blackman, age 85, of Newton Grove, N.C., passed away peacefully at Rolling Ridge Assisted Living on Thursday, October 5, 2023.
Jane was born in Johnston County on December 7, 1937, to the late Herm and Mary “Marvel” Ingram. She was the second oldest of eight children and spent her childhood in the Blackman Crossroads area. She graduated from Four Oaks High School, where she drove a school bus.
Jane married Mack “Luther” Blackman, Jr. on April 21, 1957. They made their home in Newton Grove and farmed there for many years. Later in life, she worked at Newton Grove Drug Store. After a number of years, she began working as a bank teller for United Carolina Bank. She eventually retired from First Citizen’s Bank.
Jane began playing the piano at age 8 by ear and perfected her talent with lessons. As an adult, she taught herself to play the organ. Not only did she lead the music program at Pleasant Union Christian church for many decades, where she was a faithful member, she has performed incalculable numbers of weddings, funerals, Eastern Star, Woodman of the World, social events, and family gatherings.
Jane was a woman of many talents and skills, including cake decorating, baking, floral arrangements and crafts, home decorating, crocheting, sewing, canning, and others. She was an excellent cook and was sought out by many for her homemade buttermilk biscuits. She loved to garden, especially flowers. She loved down-to-earth things like the smell of sheets that had dried on a clothesline. One of her favorite pastimes was to sit on the swing and watch the birds play and sing in the backyard.
Most of all, Jane loved her family and friends. Her kindness touched many hearts throughout her life. She was a peacemaker who was always quick to forgive. She loved a sense of humor and had a contagious smile. Jane was preceded in death by her husband of 38 years, Luther Blackman; sisters Annette Boyette (Ted) and Julia Willis (Bob); and brothers, Jesse (Carolyn), Larry (Carolyn), and Bill (Shari) Ingram. Her children cherish her memory: Fonville Hayes (Audie), Kelly Blackman (Tammy), and Emily Blackman (Lisa).
Also, eight grandchildren and their spouses, eight great-grandchildren and spouses, one great-great-grandchild with one great-grandchild and one great-great-grandchild on the way. She is also survived by a sister, Cora Langdon, and a brother, Russell Ingram (Christine).
A graveside service will be held at 11 am on Monday, October 9, 2023, at Hillcrest Cemetery in Newton Grove, N.C.
Visitation will be 6-8 pm at West & Dunn Funeral Home on Sunday, October 8, 2023.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to any Alzheimer’s Research organization to help fight the debilitating disease that took her and so many others.
Online condolences may be made at: www.westanddunn.com
West & Dunn Funeral Home, Newton Grove is honored to serve the Blackman Family.
