LeGrand Lee “LL” Blackwell of Mableton, GA passed away on November 29, 2011 at the age of 80. LL was born May 24, 1931 in Little Rock, SC to Harrison Benjamin Blackwell, Sr. and Lurline Olivia Thomas Blackwell. He was named after his mother’s father, Rev. LeGrand Lee Thomas, who was a pastor at McCoy’s Chapel in Little Rock during the early 1900’s. During the Korean War, he served in the United States Army, and soon after, met and married Virginia “GG” Wright. While they lived in Little Rock, he was a member of the Masonic Lodge, coached Little League, was a Boy Scout leader, and deacon, and retired as a barber and co-owner/operator of Blackwell Barber Shop. During L.L.’s declining years GG and his children, cared for all his needs until his death. He was a member of Mt. Harmony Baptist Church in Mableton, GA. LL is survived by his wife of 58 years, Virginia Blackwell; children, LeGrand & Maria Blackwell, Jr. of Atlanta, Valeri
Blackwell of Mableton, Rev. John & Kathe Blackwell of Zion, IL, Vikki Blackwell of Atlanta, and DeNise Patrick of Chicago; ten grandchildren; and one great-grandson. Funeral services were held at Mt. Harmony Baptist Church on Saturday, December 3, 2011 with officiates, Dr. Randal Whitten and Rev. John Blackwell.Carley Wiggins’s article in the Dillon Herald, February 2010 featured “The Blackwell’s of Little Rock” along with a wonderful portrait of the families who achieved much from education. LL and his family will be remembered by many families in Dillon County.
