Bernard L. Blackwell

Bernard L. Blackwell age 88 of Stone Mountain passed away November 9, 2017. Mr. Blackwell was the founder of Blackwell & Associates, Inc. and was a pioneer in the medical staffing industry. A charter member of The Private Care Association he served as national President from 1993-1995. Mr. Blackwell was a retired Lt. Colonel in the US Army Reserve and very active in the following organizations; Scottish Rite Foundation and Scholarship Committee, Fundraising Board at Emory School of Nursing, Chairman of Fundraising a Yaarab Shrine Temple Hospital Fund, Chairman of the Committee on Annual giving for the Scottish Rite Supreme Council, President of the Atlanta Masonic Temple Company from 1996-2001, Past Master in the Masonic Lodge and a member of the Royal Order of Jesters. Mr. Blackwell was the mascot for the Atlanta Police Department as a boy and later became a sworn Atlanta Police Officer. He served as a volunteer at the Baseball venue during the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. Bernard loved the staff and residents of Park Springs and proudly served as Chairman of the Buildings and Grounds Committee. He is survived by his wife of 63 years Martha H. Blackwell; sons, John Hayes Blackwell and his wife Margie of Jersey Village, TX, Dr. Thomas Harold Blackwell and his wife Marty of Greenville, SC; grandchildren, Mary Kim Blackwell, Holly Blackwell, Katie Anderson, Matt Tahaney all of Houston, TX, Joseph Hayes Blackwell and his wife Kaitlin and Thomas Alexander Blackwell all of Greenville, SC; great grandchildren, Autumn, Kyle, Ava Kim, Melanie, Jaxon, Benjamin. A funeral service will be held Tuesday November 14, 2017 at 1:00 PM with remains placed in state at Noon at Shallowford Presbyterian Church at 2375 Shallowford Rd. NE Atlanta, GA 30345. Rev. Chris Henry & Rev. Robert Carroll, Jr. will officiate. Private family Entombment will follow in the Abbey at Westview Cemetery. The family request that members of Scottish Rite, Yaarab Temple and Royal Order of Jesters serve as honorary pallbearers. In lieu of flowers please make donations in memory of Mr. Blackwell to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta (Scottish Rite Children's Hospital) Foundation 1577 NE Expressway Suite A Atlanta, GA 30329. The family will receive friends Monday from 5:00 until 7:00 PM at Wages & Sons Stone Mountain Chapel 1040 Main St. Stone Mountain. 770-469-9811.