Mr. Samuel Lee Blackburn, 103, of 1744 Sycamore St. Clarksdale,MS died May 17, 2024 at his home surrounded by family and friends. A funeral service will be held Saturday, May 25, 2024 at 1:00 P.M. at Chapel Hill M. B. Church. Burial will follow at Heavenly Rest Cemetery. A visitation will be held Friday, May 24, 2024 from 5:00 P. M. to 7:00 P. M. at 615 S. State St. Clarksdale, MS.
Samuel L. Blackburn was born on November 19, 1920, in Claiborne County, Mississippi. He was called home on May 17, 2024. He was the only son of six children born to the late Steve and Rosie Lee Blackburn. He was a devoted husband to the late Bertha Maiden Blackburn. To their union two daughters were born: Myra Blackburn Generette of Clarksdale, MS and Linda Blackburn Smith Cherry (Parker), of Gulfport, MS. They have four grandchildren: Docia G. Walker (Timmy), of Memphis, TN, Bakari A. Generette (Danyell) of Atlanta, GA, Jason J. Smith and Samuel S. Smith of Gulfport, MS. There are eight great grandchildren: Therion, Brice, Samuel and Braelyn of Jackson, MS, Kennedy and Lashae of Atlanta, GA, and Jason and Jaliyah of Gulfport, MS; two great-great grandsons: Jaiden and Jace of Atlanta, GA. and one great-great granddaughter: Skier of Gulfport, MS.
He attended Saint Marks Elementary School, in the Claiborne County Public School System, taught by Mrs. S.M. Teemer, who was his only teacher first through the eighth grade (1936). He attended Claiborne County Training School, ninth through eleventh grade and completed the twelfth grade at Alcorn Laboratory High School on the campus of Alcorn A & M College in 1940, then attended Alcorn A & M College from 1940 to 1942, at which time he entered the United States Army serving during World War II. He received an Honorable Discharge in 1945 and returned to Alcorn A & M College in 1946 where he received his Bachelor of Science Degree in 1948. Also, in 1948 he married Bertha Maiden and moved to Clarksdale, Mississippi where he was a resident for seventy-six years.
His teaching career began in 1948 in the Clarksdale Public School System, he became a Construction Contractor in 1951, and re-entered the teaching field in 1953 at Coahoma Agricultural High School, which lead to him becoming the Director of Vocational-Technical Education at Coahoma Junior College in 1966, retiring in 1985. Teaching was his primary occupation, but he was also a Master Carpenter. He built his own home and did construction projects throughout the community and state.
He participated in various organizations: Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), Alcorn State University Local and National Alumni Associations, Metropolitan Baptist Church, The NAACP, Clarksdale-Coahoma County Planning Commission, Mississippi and National Teachers Associations, National Teachers of Mathematics, Mississippi Junior College Vo-Tech-Edu. Directors Association, National Vocational Educators Association and other local, state and national organizations.
He was active and enjoyed life until the age of one hundred and three!
From Delta Burial: https://www.facebook.com/100063745862555/posts/947320654069455/