Mrs. Julia Blackwood, 88, died Easter weekend at her home in Chapel Hill.
Julia was born in Clinton, NC to Herman Stewart and Jenny B. Merritt. She came to Chapel Hill as the young bride of Eugene M. Blackwood. Soon after, she went to work as a secretary at the American Tobacco Company in Durham.
She was a very active member of Orange United Methodist Church in Chapel Hill. During her years there, she served as the secretary for the Administrative Board, church Treasurer, sang in the chancel choir, taught Sunday School and was the primary contributor to “Facing Tomorrow, Understanding Yesterday,†the only history book ever published about OUMC. Until her death, she hosted a church bible study at her house every Tuesday evening.
One of her friends said, “I wish you had known Julia in the many idyllic years she had with Eugene at the farm. What happy gatherings we had there! Sunday School picnics, I remember especially. The place felt like heaven. And I guess you could say that Julia and Eugene were the ‘heavenly hosts.’â€
Mrs. Blackwood was preceded in death by her husband, Eugene M. Blackwood, and a brother who was killed in World War II. She is survived by a sister, Edna Boineau, and brother-in-law, Glenn Boineau, and many loving cousins, nieces and nephews.
A funeral service was held April 18 at Orange United Methodist Church, officiated by the Rev. D. Ray Warren.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given in Mrs. Blackwood’s name to the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR), c/o Orange United Methodist Church, 1220 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, Chapel Hill, NC, 27514, or the Durham Rescue Mission, 507 E. Knox St., Durham, NC, 27701.
Arrangements by Walker’s Funeral Home of Chapel Hill.