Rev. Robert LeRoy Blackwell

COLUMBIA - A memorial service for Reverend Robert LeRoy Blackwell, 86, will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, January 16, 2016, at Shandon Presbyterian Church. The family will receive friends after the service. Masonic Rites will be recited at 1:00 p.m. prior to the service in Davis Hall. Rev. Robert L. Blackwell, son of Eugene M. Blackwell, Jr. and Sabra Olive Holbert, died at his Columbia home January 4, 2016. He was born in Scranton, PA June 27, 1929 and attended the Scranton School System. He graduated Central High School, LaFayettte College in Easton, PA and Princeton Theological Seminary in Princeton, NJ. He then served churches in Orchard Park, NY, Plainsboro, NJ, and Kearny, NJ. Robert married Beverley Ann Cook at the Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church in Elizabeth, NJ on June 19. 1954. A member of Trinity Presbytery, Columbia SC, and ordained minister of the Presbyterian Church USA, Rev. Blackwell was a guest minister at the Batesburg Leesville Presbyterian Church and the Pedersen Presbyterian Church of Columbia. He was moderator twice of the Presbytery of Newark, NJ, Chair of Christian Education of the Synod of the Northeast, and was Trustee of Bloomfield College NJ. In 1964, Rev. Blackwell was a co-founder of Operation Friendship of America, an international youth venture, served as president, twice as tour director, and made a life member of the organization. An Eagle Scout and recipient of the Silver Beaver BSA award, he served as a member of the Executive Board of the Hudson-Hamilton Council of NJ over 30 years. Rev. Blackwell is Past Master of Fort Jackson Lodge #547, Columbia, The Columbia York Rite Bodies and the Scottish Valley of Columbia, Knight of the Court of Honor as well as AMD, Knight Masons, Yorkrite College. He was awarded a distinguished Service Apron by the Grand Lodge of New Jersey and a life member of the Masonic Kilties of New Jersey. He was the Grand Prelate of the The Grand Commandery in Florida. After moving to SC, he served in the same capacity until his death. Surviving are his wife, Beverley; son, Bruce Robert; daughter, Elisabeth Ann Schwartz (James); granddaughter, Jessica Schwartz; grandson, Luke Schwartz; sister-in-law; Linda Cook Jacobs (Arthur); niece, Lauren Jacobs Gates (Chris); nephews, Daniel Jacobs (Michelle) and Andrew Jacobs (Mel); and relatives in Pennsylvania, New York and Florida. Memorials may be made to Shandon Presbyterian Church, c/o Renovation Fund, 607 Woodrow Street, Columbia, SC 29205.