Kevin Blackwell

Joseph "Kevin" Blackwell, 60, of Concord, North Carolina, passed away in his sleep late at night on Sunday, March 1, 2026. Kevin was born in Augusta, Georgia, on May 26, 1965, and his family moved to Charlotte in 1967. He graduated from Belmont Abbey College in 1991.

Kevin is survived by his daughter, Jenna Blackwell; her husband, Johan Sisco Requena; his grandson, Johan Sisco Marval; and his future grandson, expected in May 2026. He is also survived by his siblings, Bonnie Hauser; Steve Armstrong and his wife, Cathy; and Terri Blackwell; as well as his nieces and nephews: John Armstrong; Laura Armstrong and her husband, Theo Addomills, and their son, Noah Addomills; Amanda Lewchuk and her husband Johnathon; and Karley Blackwell. He was preceded in death by his parents, Doris and Seabron Blackwell, and his brother, Larry Blackwell.

Kevin fought a courageous ten-month battle with brain cancer, and he prioritized his love for his family until the very end. Kevin was known for his resilience, his dedication to his work, and his deep love for his daughter and his family.

Kevin was admired for his excellence in his place of work, ACN Communications, where he worked as a Quality Software Engineer for 16 years. He was respected by his coworkers for being a fierce advocate of doing things the "right" way and never being afraid to speak his mind. The friendships he formed at work extended far beyond the office, and he considered his colleagues beloved friends throughout his life.

Kevin was extremely popular in his neighborhood for having the best Halloween decorations, and for dressing up each year to hand out treat bags filled with full‑size candy bars and small toys. He took great joy in finding creative new ways to outdo himself with more imaginative and scarier decorations with each passing year.

For his family, Kevin was the maker of Christmas magic. He often began planning for Christmas as early as January, taking pride in finding the most thoughtful and unique gifts. Whether it was a one‑of‑a‑kind set of pajamas with fabric hand-selected and crafted to perfectly match those from the movie Christmas Vacation, or a donation certificate to “Adopt a Goat,” Kevin never failed to surprise his loved ones. He and his daughter, Jenna, shared an annual “Christmas Wrapping Extravaganza,” meticulously wrapping gifts with a hot glue gun and watching classic Christmas movies. No present was too oddly-shaped for Kevin to wrap, and he loved arriving on Christmas Eve with a red wagon overflowing with gifts.

Another of Kevin's passions was wildlife - specifically, the birds, deer, squirrels, and even raccoons that lived in the woods behind his home. He developed such a relationship with "his deer," that the deer would wait at his back door for Kevin to bring them dinner! Kevin was a very punctual man, who always adhered to a strict feeding schedule to ensure that the deer and their friends were fed on time. While many people might try to keep squirrels and raccoons away from the birdfeeders, Kevin believed the raccoons and squirrels deserved to eat good food too, and he gave them their own special meals as well. Kevin was very proud to receive an official Certified Wildlife Habitat sign for his own backyard!

Kevin cherished spending time with his big brother, Steve, with whom he shared a lifelong love for music. Kevin often reminisced of how he would spend time with Steve as a child, going into Steve's room and listening to records with him. Kevin and Steve's relationship was truly special, and Kevin always loved to brag about his big brother and tell stories of their childhood. For the rest of Kevin's life, he cherished his long phone calls with Steve, where they would talk about concerts, music, and life in general.

Kevin will be dearly missed by all who knew him. He was a truly special and unforgettable man—intelligent, generous, witty, and full of heart. He was proud to be a dependable father, and he would have been a wonderful grandfather to Jenna and Johan's soon-to-arrive grandson. Kevin's legacy will live on through the hearts of all the lives he touched.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Glioblastoma Foundation at www.glioblastomafoundation.org or to Heifer International at www.heifer.org.