Helen Blackburn

Helen Delorese (Allen) Blackburn was born November 12, 1929, in the community of Bertice in Leake County, Mississippi, to Marion J and Annie Viola Allen.She finished her journey on this earth June 2, 2023. Helen was the second of eleven children, (Gwen, Polly, Geneva, Linda, Sondria, Jack, Marshall, Jerry, Julian, and Jimmy Ray). Her early life was one of hard work helping her father, mother and siblings in the cotton fields, gardens, and general farm work. She often told us how her family would work their cotton fields and then go the Ludlow to chop cotton in neighboring fields.

Helen married Malcom Powell at the age of sixteen and had two children. She returned to Morton as a single mother and began working at the Talon Zipper factory. She met Eugene Blackburn and together they had one daughter. Helen and Eugene were married over 60 years.

As her second career, she opened her home to children of working parents. Helen gave the children a loving home away from home, known as Mamaw’s House. To those children she will always be known as Mamaw. It would be hard to know the number of children she cared for and showered with genuine love. Mamaw will forever be in their hearts. Every child knew Mamaw’s rules were to be followed and learned valuable life lessons along the way.

Helen will always be remembered for her food, especially the chocolate pies, lima beans, and dumplings. Her giving spirit led her to always share her love for cooking with her community and church. Helen was a long time member of First Baptist Church in Morton and the Stancill Sunday School class. She spend many hours keeping the babies in the church nursery.

She was also blessed with a green thumb that made her home burst with a variety of colors and fragrance during spring and summer. Her front porch was sometimes hard to navigate, due to the number and enormity of her ferns.

Helen’s life will be marked by love for her family, the love of all her children, and her love for God.

Helen was preceded in death by her parents, eight brothers and sisters, husband, Eugene Blackburn, daughter-in-law, Diane Powell, and grandson, Mike Evans. She is survived by sisters, Geneva Liddon & Sondria Henderson; sister-in-law, Nila McCullough (Kenneth); aunt, Audrey Hopper; daughter, Elouise Evans (Sonny); son, Buddy Powell (Joan); daughter, Jeanie Walker (D.W.); grandchildren, Dee Evans (Angela); Michael McArthur (Lauran); Nicol Woodbury (Neil); Shelley Ezelle; Steven Walker; Jason Walker(Grace); great grandchildren, Andy Evans, Katie Parker (Tristen); Daiten Woodbury; Colson Woodbury; Chamblee Ezelle; Hills Ezelle, Stella McArthur; Lula McArthur; Tristan Walker; Madeline Walker and one great-great grandchild, Wyatt Parker, as well as many nieces and nephews. Two of the children she watched, Cassie Courtney (Peyton) and Jake Harrell (Lacey), have never forgotten their “Mamaw” and along with all her grandchildren, will carry her love and affection with them forever.

Please join us in a celebration of her life. There will be a visitation on Sunday, June 4 from 2 P.M. to 4 P.M. and on Monday, June 5 at 10:30 A.M. followed by a service at 11:30 A.M. at Ott and Lee Funeral Home in Morton, Mississippi.

Arrangements were entrusted to the care of Ott & Lee Funeral Home in Morton.