Dennis Lester Blackmon

A service will be held to celebrate his extraordinary life on Thursday, November 14, 2024, at 2:00pm at Cornerstone Baptist Church in Greensboro (5736 Inman Road Greensboro, NC 27410). Prior to the celebration service, a visitation and reception will be held at the church beginning at 1:00pm.

Dennis was born on July 16, 1946, in Many, LA to Horace Lester Blackmon and Florence Clorine Ammons LaRue, and raised in Shreveport, LA. He graduated from Woodlawn High School in Shreveport, LA in 1964. He attended Louisiana College for his undergraduate degree and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary for his Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry degrees. He attended Southside Baptist Church in Shreveport, LA where he met and married his high school sweetheart, Alita Sue Maulden. He was ordained into ministry in 1970 and went on to pastor Berea Baptist Church in Jacksonville, AR before following God’s call to missions and moving with his wife and two young daughters to Brazil in 1974. During breaks from serving in Brazil, Dennis served as Regional Consultant for Church Planting in Southeast Texas and served for 13 years as the Director of Missions for the Piedmont Baptist Association in Greensboro, NC.

Dennis had a deep love for the Word of God, the souls of men and planting churches, which was evident in his over 40 years of ministry. As a missionary in Brazil, he served in various capacities: Strategy Consultant for Evangelism and Church Planting in Southeast Brazil, Seminary Professor at the Sao Paulo Baptist Theological Seminary, Brazilian Board of Evangelism and held leadership roles with the International Mission Board. Whether overseas or in the United States, he prioritized people and always looked for ways to invest in the lives of others. He could often be found mentoring pastors, sharing the gospel with someone he just met or offering a word of wisdom and encouragement. The investment he made in the lives of others is his legacy and will live on for generations to come.

Dennis enjoyed traveling, discussing theology, debating politics, working in his garden and, above all, spending time with family and friends. His unique sense of humor elicited as many eye-rolls as it did laughs which were always met with his characteristic smirk and twinkle in his eyes.

Dennis is survived by his beloved wife, Alita Blackmon of Greensboro, NC; his daughter Louine Blackmon of Greensboro, NC; his daughter and son-in-law, Elizabeth and Kevin Smith of Greensboro, NC; his brother and sister-in-law, Larry and Stephanie Blackmon of Monroe, LA; his grandson, Elijah Smith of Tokyo, Japan and his granddaughter, Josie Smith of Greensboro, NC.

Now that Dennis has been received into the arms of our Lord Jesus his life on earth is over, but it is the beginning of a beautiful new life, fully healed for eternity. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

A special thanks to the hospice nurses, aids and doctors of AthoraCare Collective in Greensboro for their compassionate care of Dennis in his final days.

In lieu of flowers, please make memorial contributions to AthoraCare Greensboro’s Beacon Place or the Cornerstone Baptist Church building fund.

AuthoraCare - https://www.authoracare.org/give/donate-online

Cornerstone Baptist Church - https://cornerstonegso.org/giving