Doris Pittman Blackwood passed away peacefully on August 19, 2018, at Baptist Hospital in Jackson, MS. Her funeral will take place at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, August 23rd at Fondren Presbyterian Church, with a burial to follow at Parkway Memorial Cemetery in Ridgeland. The family will receive visitors from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. at Fondren Presbyterian Church.
Doris was born on July 17, 1935, in Jackson at Baptist Hospital. She was a resident of Jackson for most of her adult life.
She was a graduate of Florence High School where she was valedictorian, homecoming queen and a cheerleader. She was Miss Florence her senior year of high school. Doris attended Millsaps College in Jackson. During her college years, she worked for the State Times newspaper in Jackson where she met her future husband Ralph. After Ralph and Doris were married in 1961, they started a family. Doris was a dedicated mother of three children who always put her children and family first. Doris also enjoyed supporting her husband’s business career, including traveling and at one point relocating to Treasure Cay, Bahamas for a short time. Doris concluded her own career when she retired after many years with Millsaps College in the Office of Development.
Doris will be fondly remembered for her devotion to Fondren Presbyterian Church where she served as President of the Women of the Church, taught Sunday school, and additionally supported many other programs at Fondren. She will be especially missed by her grandchildren who loved to spend time with her on the beach collecting shells or in the kitchen cooking. Doris emphasized the importance of learning to her children and grandchildren and to “set your sights high and be whatever you want to be.” Doris will also be remembered as a loving daughter and sister to her siblings. Doris was blessed to have many brothers and sisters who all shared a loving devotion for one another. In particular, she enjoyed a very close relationship with her sisters, as she often said, “There is no dearer friend than a sister.”
She is preceded in death by her husband Ralph Blackwood, mother Madelyn Loper Pittman, father Jimmie D. Pittman, sister Jackie Pittman Phillips, brothers Harold Pittman and Dickie Pittman.
She is survived by son Stephen F. (Kimberly) of Los Angeles, CA, daughter Laurie’ E. Sanders (Richard) of Madison, MS and son Jeffrey R. of Jackson, MS, sister Ruth McFarland, sister Tommie Bridges (Ervin), brother Bill Pittman (Jeannie), sister Pat Polk (Rudy), sister Montie Wedel (Stanley), and brother John Pittman (Melonie). She is also survived by her grandchildren, Aaron Warner Blackwood, Katherine Blackwood, John Morgan Berry, Brooke Berry, Bailey Berry, Anna Sanders, Gatlin Sanders, Paige Blackwood, Ann Louise Blackwood, Matthew Blackwood and Abigail Kate Blackwood and many nieces and nephews.
Her family would like to especially thank her faithful caregivers Ella Brent, Gwen Alexander, and Loretha Williams. Their loving devotion to the care of both Doris and Ralph over the past four years has been a true testament to their faith, kindness, and compassion. Her family would also like to thank Hospice Ministries.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to either Fondren Presbyterian Church or Millsaps College.
