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Submitted: 12/2/21 • Approved: 12/4/21 • Last Updated: 12/7/21 • R1404028-G1404028-S3
World War II
August 28, 1921 - December 14, 2019
*Obituary
Emma Lea Blackwood was born August 28, 1921 to Will and Pearl Cook Slaten at Crosby, Arkansas. She passed away Dec. 14, at her home in Tuckerman. She attended grade school at Crosby, Mount Pisgah, and Sweet Springs. After attending Harding College (now Harding University), she received an emergency certificate to teach and began her teaching career at Joy, Arkansas, teaching first through fourth grades in a two-room schoolhouse. She then attended Arkansas College (now Lyon College). On April 18, 1943, during WWII, she enlisted in the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps and had basic training at Camp Monticello, Arkansas. After basic training, she was sent to Camp (now Fort) Campbell, Kentucky, and served until August 31, 1943. She then enlisted in the Women’s Army Corps and served until her discharge January 16, 1946. She completed her college degree at Arkansas State College (now Arkansas State University).
Emma Lea married Samuel Hale Blackwood, Jr, on August 6, 1948, and they made their homes in Newport and Tuckerman, Arkansas where they raised their three daughters.
Emma Lea taught in the elementary grades for part of a year in Swifton and the rest of her teaching career was at Tuckerman. After retiring, she enjoyed traveling with close friends and volunteering in her community. Emma Lea was a volunteer at Newport Hospital, the Jackson and Lawrence counties’ jail ministries, and at the women’s prison unit at Newport.
Emma Lea was an active member of the First Baptist Church in Tuckerman since 1955, teaching Sunday School, Training Union, Vacation Bible School, and Girls’ Auxiliary.
Emma Lea was preceded in death by her parents; her sisters, Estell Slaten and Katherine Murphy; her brother, Bill Slaten; and by the father of her daughters.
Survivors include her daughters, Elizabeth Turner of Batesville; Linda Ford of Tuckerman; Nancy and husband David Coleman of Batesville; grandchildren, Sam and wife Jamie McMinn of Batesville; Candy and husband Matt Thompson of McMinnville, Oregon; great grandchildren, Madeline McMinn and Slaten Thompson; granddaughter of her heart, Amber and husband Chad Schuchmann of Charlotte, North Carolina; and great grandchildren of her heart, Lindsay Cox, Dawson Schuchmann, Savannah Schuchmann, and Jessica Schuchmann. She is also survived by many nephews and nieces and a host of friends.
Memorials may be made to Trails to Tuckerman or the church of your choice.
VISITATION
Dillinger Funeral Home
Wednesday, December 18, 2019
5:30 PM - 7:30 PM
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2001 Hwy 367 North
Newport, Arkansas 72112
FUNERAL SERVICE
First United Methodist Church
Thursday, December 19, 2019
1:00 PM
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Tuckerman, Arkansas 72473
INTERMENT
New Hope Cemetery
Thursday, December 19, 2019
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Searcy, Arkansas
Contributed on 12/2/21 by hawkinsdonna48
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Record #: 1404028