Dorothy K. Blackwood

Dorothy Karamessines Blackwood, 89, passed away Saturday, May 24, 2014. A child of Greek immigrants who entered this country through Ellis Island, Mrs. Blackwood was born in New York and graduated in 1942 from George Washington High School in New York. She was accepted into Cornell University, waving admission to continue working while supporting her mother. She later continued her education and attended Memphis State University, where she joined their honor society. Mrs. Blackwood married Thomas T. Blackwood in 1954 and was blessed with three children. She worked in Columbia University Library Cataloging Department, N.Y., an executive secretary at WJR in Detroit and appeared on television shows at WWJ-TV, WXYZ-TV and WJBK-TV in Detroit. She also acted in theatre productions in Detroit and Birmingham, MI, Toledo, Ohio, Lancaster and Harrisburg, PA and appeared in virtually all Memphis theatres as well as many television commercials. Her accomplishments were many and include The Best Actress Award at Southeastern Theatre Conference in 2002, Eugart Yerian Award for Lifetime Distinguished Achievement in Memphis Theatre in 2003 and several Ostrander nominations and awards. Mrs. Blackwood was preceded in death by her husband, Thomas T. Blackwood. She is survived by two daughters, Melissa Elizabeth Booth (Robert) and Kara Diana Blackwood (Gerry Keen); one son, Jason Thomas Blackwood; and two grandsons, Taylor Callahan Blackwood and Christopher Jason Blackwood. Services will be held Monday, June 9, 2014 beginning at 2:30 pm in the Rotunda at West TN Veterans Cemetery on Forest Hill Irene Rd.

Arrangements under the direction of Family Funeral Care, Memphis, TN.