Willie Woody Blackwell

Ms. Willie Woody Blackwell, our mother, our friend, and our protector, passed away on February 16, 2026, at the age of 73. A lifelong resident of Durham, North Carolina, Willie was a woman of deep faith, unwavering strength, and boundless love.

Above all, she was devoted to her family and her church. A true servant of the Lord, Willie lived her life guided by faith, compassion, and generosity. She was a loving mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother whose heart embraced not only her children, but all who knew her. Her warmth, wisdom, and protective spirit made her a steady foundation for her family and a trusted friend to many.

Willie is survived by her two children: Danny Blackwell (Tina) and Tracy Jacobs (Melvin), five sisters and one brother: Brenda Woody, Stella Cole, Jewel Crutchfield, Annette Lawson, Virginia Pettiford, and Elvis Woody, along with a host of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, and other loving relatives and friends who will forever cherish her memory.

Funeral services will be held at Hall-Wynne Funeral Service, 1113 W. Main St., Durham, NC, on February 27, 2026. Visitation will take place from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., with funeral services beginning at 11:00 a.m.

In lieu of flower arrangements, the family kindly requests potted plants that may be repotted in memory of Ms. Willie Blackwell.

Though she is no longer with us in body, her love, faith, and legacy will continue to live on in the hearts of all who were blessed to know her.