Funeral services for Grace Blackwell, of Bogue Chitto, are Monday, July 3, 2017, at 2 p.m. at New Zion Union M.B. Church in Bogue Chitto. Williams Mortuary in Brookhaven is in charge of arrangements.

Visitation will be Sunday, July 2, 2017, from 1 until 6 p.m. at the funeral home.

Mrs. Blackwell, 79, died Tuesday, June 27, 2017, at her residence. She was born July 2, 1937, to Rev. Charlie Bates and Golda Brown Bates.

Preceding her in death were her parents; husband, LeVan Blackwell; son, Charlie Bates; four brothers, James “J.C” Bates, Jonas Bates, LeRoy Bates and C.B. Bates; and a sister, Gladys Calhoun.

Survivors are her two daughters, Evelyn Swington, of Bogue Chitto, Gwendolyn Diane Buie, of Jackson; stepdaughter, Barbara May, of Chicago, Illinois; one sister, Daisy Fairman, of Bogue Chitto; nine grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; five great-great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.