Born July 12, 1939 in Sulligent, Alabama to Earby & Wilma Markham. She was the oldest of two children. Helen’s family moved to Spanish Fort, Alabama where her fondest memory was riding the bread truck with her daddy. She spent her school years in Prichard, Alabama where she attended Vigor High School- she enjoyed telling everyone she encountered a story of Elvis Presley coming to their school to perform and being shooed off stage by faculty.
Helen worked at Lofton Furniture, where she met the love of her life, Sonny. After Marrying on March 12, 1959 and Sam fulfilling his duties to the Air Force, they started a family of their own. With a house full of children, Helen became the first woman to have ownership of a towing company in Mobile County- S&H Auto June 1, 1963. She became the first female EMT of Mobile and served as Grand Ester in The Eastern Star (1987-1988). She was an active member in her church as well, Crawford Baptist. Helen set the bar in fulfilling her career, family, and community obligations with only high expectations.
After Helen and Sam’s retirement they enjoyed traveling by motorhome and cruises to places most could dream to visit. She enjoyed time with her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren who affectionately called her Gran Gran. If you ever came to visit there was always fresh coffee brewing and amazing stories to hear of her adventurous life.
Helen is preceded in death by her daddy Earby Cecil Makham and mother Wilma Frances Markham of Spanish Fort, Alabama.
Helen is survived by her husband Samuel "Sonny" Brise Blackwell Sr. of Semmes, Alabama;
Children- Samuel Brise Blackwell Jr (Susan) of Irvington, Alabama, Cecil “Dewayne” Blackwell of Semmes, Alabama, Sonya Kay Blackwell of Semmes, Alabama; Grandchildren- Samuel Brise Blackwell III (Elizabeth) of Mobile, Alabama, Jared Blackwell (Melody) of Theodore, Alabama, Katelynn Dallmann (Logan) of Semmes, Alabama, Kayla Blackwell, Cecil “DJ” and Elizabeth Blackwell of Semmes, Alabama, Sara Schreier Blackwell of Dresden, Germany, Kasey Stuckey (Jason) of Wing, Alabama, Codi Farley of Irvington, Alabama, Justin Jones (Hannah) of Mobile, Alabama, Joseph Pruitt of Semmes, Alabama; Great grandchildren- Kaydence Blackwell, Emma Blackwell and London Blackwell of Mobile, Alabama, Addelyn Dallmann and Jayce Dallmann of Semmes, Alabama, Jordan Davis and Tanner Stuckey of Wing, Alabama, Sadie Elston and Riley Dodson of Theodore, Alabama, Abigail Jones of Mobile, Alabama; along with many extended family members and a host of wonderful friends.
The family will be accepting guests for visitation on Tuesday, 2/22/2022 from 12:00 PM until 1:00 PM at Radney Funeral Home, 3155 Dauphin Street, Mobile, AL 36606. Funeral services will follow at 1:00 PM at Radney’s. Interment will immediately follow on the grounds of Pine Crest Cemetery West, 1599 Snow Rd, Mobile, AL, 36695.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.radneyfuneralhome-mobile.com for the Blackwell family.
