Florence Etta (Fowlkes) Blackwell

Florence Etta Blackwell, a loving devoted and faithful servant of God passed away peacefully on January 27, 2026. She was born on July 21, 1923, in Baltimore, Maryland to James and Viola Ross Fowlkes.

Florence was preceded in death by her beloved parents; six brothers, James, Sidney, Bernard, Emmett, George, and Theodore Fowlkes; four sisters Viola Scott, Lillian McCoy, Blanche Peterkins and Mary Fowlkes; first and second husbands, William Kennedy and Irvin W. Blackwell; children Robert Kennedy (Zelda), Andrew Jack Kennedy, David Kennedy, and Irvin Lee Blackwell (Tooley); granddaughters, Rhonda and Michelle Kennedy; grandson Mango; great granddaughter Jazmin Kennedy and great-great granddaughter, Payton.

Florence is survived by her daughter, Linda Davis of Las Vegas, Nevada; son, Aaron Kennedy (Joyce) of Norfolk, Virginia; two bonus sons, Alexander Brown (Glenda) of Hanover, Maryland and Stanley Blackwell of Baltimore, Maryland; two daughters-in-law, Elizabeth Kennedy of Las Vegas, Nevada and Alma Kennedy of the Philippines; and one brother John Fowlkes of Wake Forest, North Carolina.

She is also survived by fourteen grandchildren, Antoinette Overbey (Tony) of Roxboro, North Carolina; April Brown of Durham, North Carolina; Twanda Kennedy King, Kelly Kennedy, Valerie McGuire, and Daviea Thomas of Baltimore, Maryland; Monica Kennedy of McKinnon, Texas; Teriea Uzzle (Steve), Carlton Lark and Aaron Kennedy of Norfolk, Virginia; Antonina Kennedy of California; A J Kennedy of the Philippines; Lamont Thomas (Tammi) of Massachusetts; David Kennedy (Rosanna) of Las Vegas, Nevada; twenty-eight great grandchildren, ten great-great grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

The family would like to extend a special thanks to the staff of the Medi Home Health and Hospice in Roxboro, North Carolina. They routinely went above and beyond to kindly and professionally care for Florence during the latter time of her life. She was truly warmed by their ever-present embrace.

The funeral service will be held on Saturday, February 21, 2026 at 1:00pm at the Alan L. Lawson Mortuary Chapel. Family visitation will be one hour before service. Eulogist for the service is Rev. Dr. Langston Logan, Pastor of Lawson Chapel Missionary Baptist Church, Roxboro, NC.

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