Edward Lewis Blackwell

Mr. Edward Lewis Blackwell

Edward Lewis Blackwell, age 78, born and raised in Aiken, South Carolina, went home to be with His Lord June 26, 2021.  He was the son of James and Norma Blackwell of Aiken, South Carolina. He went with his boots on riding a moped. He never let his age stop him from what he wanted to do. At age 70, you could find him on his rooftop repairing his roof or riding bicycles with his grandkids.

He was always somewhat of a rebel. He could tell stories of stealing watermelons, cherry bombs in mailboxes, and tying his brother to a tree. Marrying his high-school sweetheart and best friend’s sister, Neomia Morris did not calm him down. To avoid the draft, he joined the Air Force and proudly served his country during Vietnam at Beale’s AFB in California. He loved his time in the Air Force and could regale you with stories of he and his buddies using heavy equipment without permission, seeing classified air planes and teasing Neomia.

Edward had a good sense of humor. He liked to tell “dad jokes”, make up his own songs and sing loudly, and wake up his sleepy children with “Rise and Shine, the world is waiting on you!” He sometimes would wake the whole house up with playing his favorite records which included songs like “Good, Bad and Ugly” theme, “Lonely Bull” and “Hooked on Classics”. He enjoyed playing old country songs while taking his family on surprise trips to watch air planes land at the airport, go swimming, or shop at a flea market. He did not believe in sitting and watching television. If he watched t.v. , it would be Star Trek or some other science fiction. The first three Star Wars were some of his favorite movies.

However, Edward would rather read science fiction than watch it. One of his favorite past times was reading. His favorite book was the Holy Bible. He loved to read anything scripture related. He enjoyed a good cup of coffee, a book in his hands, and conversations with God and about God. He also enjoyed reading self help books to better himself. He believed in self education not only for himself but he also encouraged young people to read beyond what they were learning in school and church.

If Edward wasn’t reading or working, he was walking on the beach or in nature. He often talked about how a beautiful sunset could bring tears to his eyes or how he watched clouds float by as a kid. He taught his children how to watch for meteorites, pop firecrackers, catch fireflies and change a flat tire. He taught himself about computers and made sure his children not only learned how to use them, but had one as well. He also taught his children about God.

Besides his immediate family, Edward had two church families. He was a member of Redd’s Branch Baptist Church of Aiken, South Carolina most of his life and spent several years in Worldwide Church of God in Columbia, South Carolina. To overcome his shyness he had taken a public speaking class in the Air Force and he was able to use what he had learned to teach Sunday School at Redd’s Branch and give sermonettes in Columbia. He used his stories of picking peaches and cotton, loading trucks at Thurston’s, and working at the fiber glass plant to teach lessons on God and becoming a better person.

He also told stories of landscaping. This job caused him to leave Aiken and move to Gilbert, South Carolina. He then started as a dock worker at Safety-Kleen Corp. He worked his way up to sales rep and then manager for Safety-Kleen. He retired and returned to live in Aiken to be able to help his parents and his mother in law. He later got bored of retirement and went to work as a truck driver. He was able to take the love of his life on several runs with him.

He loved his wife, his children and grandchildren, family and friends. Everyone was always welcome into his home.

Edward was preceded in death by his beloved wife Neomia Morris Blackwell of Aiken, South Carolina and his parents James and Norma Blackwell of Aiken, South Carolina.

He is survived by his 5 children: DeAnna (Dale) Smith of Kelso, Tennessee, Mark (Jennifer) Blackwell of Eatonton, Georgia, Deborah (Perry) Otis of Montgomery, Alabama, Gary (Erinne) Blackwell of Aiken SC, and Clint (Mindie) Blackwell of Aiken, SC. Edward will also be missed by his brothers: Tommie (Mary) Blackwell, Gerald Blackwell, and his sisters Francis (Gerald Jordan) and Anne (Wallace) Boatwright.

His memory will live on in his 13 grandchildren, 6 step grandchildren, nieces, nephews, relatives and many friends.

A celebration of life service for Mr. Blackwell will be held 5:00 PM Thursday July 1, 2021 graveside at Redd’s Branch Baptist Church with Rev. Richard McWhite officiating. Services will be live streamed on the Cole Funeral Home Facebook Page. Any flowers can be delivered to the funeral home. COLE FUNERAL HOME 1544 UNIVERSITY PKWY (118 BYPASS) AIKEN, SC 29801 803-648-7175. Please sign the online registry at www.colefuneralhomeinc.net.