Louise Blackburn

Thelma Louise Blackburn, 94, of Havana, Fl., passed away on Thursday, December 8, 2016, at her residence. A private graveside funeral service was held at 3:00 on Friday, December 9, 2016, at Woodland Cemetery in Havana. Faith Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Thelma Louise Belser Blackburn was born on June 8, 1922, in Bonifay, FL, to the late Thelodore Lamar Belser and Abby Lauren Gillis Belser. She was a long-time member of Concordia Baptist Church and always looked forward to singing in the choir and expressing her Christian faith in many kind and generous ways.

Politics was in Louise’s blood. She ran for the FL House of Representatives twice and held the office of county commissioner from November 1976 until November 1988. She was the first female to be elected to constitutional office in Gadsden County. During her term of office she gave voice to many community initiatives, such as local library service, hot meals for needy senior citizens, a building devoted to senior activities, a TCC College campus branch in Gadsden County, an industrial park, and other job creating and community building activities.

She was on the Board of Directors for many organizations, such as the Appalachee Center for Human Services, Community Cares, Havana Middle School Advisory Committee, and the Senior Citizens Center. Often, she served as president in these organizations because of her strong leadership ability and her desire to make her community a better place to live for all people.

She was also a self-employed business woman who ran a grocery store for many years. Community members were often recipients of her charitable acts. If she saw a person in need, she would find a way to address that need.

Louise was married to the late John Hugh Blackburn. She had three children—John Howell, her pride and joy—the light of her life; Martha Louise Bembry, and the late Thelodore Lamar Blackburn; five deceased brothers (Murdock, Harvey, Gene, Steve and Paul Belser); four grandchildren (Misty Blackburn, Abby Blackburn, Lamar Taylor, and Beth Bembry); and 5 great grandchildren, as well as many good friends.

The family would like to thank the care-givers, friends, and hospice workers for the loving care they provided during Louise’s last years. Contributions in Louise’s memory should be made to the Havana Public Library or Hospice.