James "Jim" Robert Blackburn

He is survived by his son James "Rob" Blackburn, daughter Sharon "Sheri" Blackburn-Griffin, son-in-law Jeff Griffin, granddaughters Megan McClain (Caleb) and Abigail Nichols (Thomas), great grandsons Samuel McClain, Brodie Nichols and Silas McClain, brothers-in-law Bob Card, Ralph Brickey and Charles (Tamara) Brickey, nieces Lisa Barnes, Paula Higginson, and Carol Brickey, and nephew Jim Brickey.

Jim is predeceased by his wife Frances "Jo" Brickey Blackburn, parents Robert and Christene Blackburn, brother David Blackburn, sister Zerna Card, and daughter Angela "Angie" Lee Blackburn.

Graveside Celebration of Life will be 10 am Thursday, May 28, 2026

at Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Texarkana, Arkansas.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.eastfuneralhome.com for family and friends. Donations to honor Jim may be sent to the First United Methodist Church of Texarkana, Arkansas.

Jim was born in Poplar Bluff, Missouri and grew up in Corning, Arkansas. He graduated from Corning High School in 1955 and served in the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Air Force Reserves from 1955-1960. He graduated from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville with his BA, Masters and PhD in Psychology.

He practiced clinical psychology in Galesburg, Illinois, Helena, Arkansas and Texarkana. He helped to establish many of the original community mental health centers in the Delta and Southwest regions of Arkansas, and served as the Clinical Director and lead Psychologist of the Southwest Arkansas Counseling and Mental Health Center.

Jim was a lifelong member of the Methodist Church and was a sunday school teacher for many years at the First United Methodist Church in Texarkana, Arkansas. He was a member and president of the Oaklawn Rotary Club. He was a hospice volunteer, Razorback fan and avid hunter. He recently completed his memoirs entitled "A Lifetime of Blessings".

The family would like to thank Elite Hospice of Bryant, Arkansas, Home Instead of Benton, Arkansas and Divine Home Care, as well as the Multiple Myeloma Institute at UAMS, for many years of excellent care.

Arrangements are under the direction of East Funeral Home - Downtown.