Edna Sue Blackwood

Sue Jones Blackwood passed peacefully into eternal rest in Ridgeland, Mississippi, on June 2, 2025, surrounded by the love of her family. Born in Gadsden, Alabama, Sue spent most of her childhood in Marietta, Georgia, where her father worked building B-29 planes during World War II. After the war, her family returned to Gadsden, where Sue graduated from Gadsden High and began her college studies at Jacksonville State University.

Sue’s love for music and singing was evident from an early age, and she found great joy in church choirs and glee clubs throughout her life. It was in the choir loft of 12th Street Baptist Church in Gadsden where she met the love of her life, Loyal Ray Blackwood, a young law student from the University of Alabama. They married in 1951, just as the nation entered another war. Loyal was called back into active duty with the U.S. Navy and served in the JAG Corps for 30 years, allowing the couple and their three daughters to live and travel around the world.

Sue was the heart of her family during their years of military life, making a home wherever they were stationed—on both coasts of the U.S., and in Japan, Taiwan, Hawaii, Italy, and Saudi Arabia. She devoted herself to raising their daughters and was actively involved in PTA, Girl Scouts, church life, sewing, and cooking. Her deep Christian faith was the foundation of their family life.

During their travels, Sue completed her degree at the University of Hawaii and later worked as a librarian at the International School in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and at the Taipei American School in Taiwan. She and Loyal eventually settled near Washington, D.C., where he continued his legal career, and Sue embraced opportunities for service and volunteerism. Living so close to the nation’s capital, she received three Presidential Awards for Volunteerism and served faithfully through organizations like the P.E.O. Sisterhood, Navy Officers Wives, Welcome Neighbors, and the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), which had been meaningful communities to her since joining in 1987. After retiring, Sue and Loyal lived in Ridgeland, Mississippi, and later at Greenspring Village in Springfield, Virginia. She moved to Jackson, Mississippi in her later years to live near her daughter and son-in-law, Suzie and Ashby Foote.

Sue was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, a woman of great warmth and generosity, a gifted singer who filled homes and sanctuaries with hymns and harmonies, and a natural hostess who made everyone feel welcome. Even into her nineties, she remained curious and connected to the world—learning new things on her iPad, following current events, and planning travels with her daughters. Her joy for life, love for Scripture, especially the book of James, and gift for making others feel cherished were among her defining qualities.

She is now reunited with her beloved husband of 63 years, Captain Loyal Blackwood, U.S. Navy. She is survived by her daughters, Suzie Foote (Ashby), Mindy D’Alessandro (Duane), and Joni Foerter (Dave); her grandchildren, Nadia Caporaso, Turner Foote, Sarah Ashby Norwood (Effrem), Stuart and Tommy Foote, Christopher Foerter (Taylor), Lilly Williams (Jake), Michael, and James Foerter; and her great-grandchildren, Annabella Caporaso, Bella Foote, Greyson, Ronan, and Xina Foerter, June, Rose, and Fisher Norwood.

Her family was everything to her. She held each grandchild, great-grandchild, niece, and nephew, and their families close to her heart. She also leaves behind her brother, Dr. Ted Jones (Jane) of Gadsden, AL, and her sister Sharon Bart (Rudy) of Northridge, CA, along with their families.

Sue’s life was marked by faith, service, and love. Her family and community will carry her memory forward with grateful hearts. The funeral will take place at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C., where she will be buried alongside her husband. A prayer service will be held at Christ United Methodist Church in Jackson, Mississippi, at 11:00 a.m. on July 21st.

Donations in Sue’s honor may be made to Riverbank Organization, a non profit founded by her granddaughter, at www.rvbk.org