Sharon Whitten Blackwell

Sharon Kay Whitten Blackwell, 67, of Richmond, Texas, passed away on September 18, 2026, at Houston Methodist Hospital in Houston, Texas.

Sharon was born on March 12, 1959, in Memphis, Tennessee, the oldest of three children of Willie L. Whitten, Jr. and Gladys Moore Whitten. She grew up in Oak Grove Community, near Hattiesburg, Mississippi, graduated from Oak Grove High School, and went on to The University of Southern Mississippi, where she earned her bachelor's degree in education.

She married Jim Blackwell February 14, 1981, and they shared 45 years together. Sharon taught middle school for many years until Jim’s career took the family overseas. Teaching drew on her patience and her natural gift for order. That same care showed at home. She was a natural host: warm, thoughtful, and happiest with a full house during the holidays, with a gift for turning ordinary gatherings into moments people remembered.

Sharon was the heart of the Blackwell family, devoted to raising Ryan and Whitney. She and Jim shared a love of travel and explored much of the world together. But nothing brought her more joy than her grandchildren. She never missed an event, a game, or a birthday, kept track of every milestone, and made sure each of them knew exactly how loved they were.

Sharon is survived by her husband, James R. "Jim" Blackwell of Richmond, TX; her son, Ryan Blackwell, and his partner, Michelle McNew, of Houston, TX; Michelle's children, Micah and Luca; her daughter, Whitney Blackwell of Houston, TX; her grandchildren, Ryder, Wyatt, and Bailey; Joann Blackwell-Brown, mother of Ryder, Wyatt, Bailey, and Hudson; her brother, Ken Whitten of Pearl, MS; her sister, Linda Whitten Williams of Southaven, MS; her brothers-in-law, Henry (Wanda) Blackwell of Hattiesburg, MS, and Kenneth Blackwell of Philadelphia, MS; her sister-in-law, Lin Harper Blackwell of Hattiesburg, MS; her aunt, Betty Bynum of Southaven, MS; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends who loved her.

She was preceded in death by her father, Willie L. Whitten, Jr.; her mother, Gladys Moore Whitten; her parents-in-law, James Prentiss and Mary Faye Blackwell; and her brothers-in-law, Ronnie P. Blackwell and Matthew Williams.

A memorial service celebrating Sharon's life will be held at a later date. Details will be shared by the family.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Sharon's memory to the Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research (stopsarcoidosis.org).

The family is grateful to the doctors, nurses, and staff of Houston Methodist for the wonderful care and compassion they showed Sharon.

She made every gathering feel like an occasion, and her family will carry that forward.