Obituaries for Thursday, February 18, 2010 Edition Elsie M. Blackwood 1922-2010 Elsie M. Blackwood, 88, Tarboro, N.C., passed away Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2001, after a short illness. Mrs. Blackwood was born Aug. 14, 1922, in Rector, Ark., the daughter of Willard McGinnis and wife Ruth, nee Copeland. She was a descendant of one of the founding families of Rector, Ark., Richard Henry Copeland and wife Sarah Jane Gentry. Mrs. Blackwood began working at age 18 as a beautician in a shop in downtown Rector that was owned by her sister, Aileen McGinnis Gatewood McCord, who along with her brother, Cecil McGinnis, lived their entire lives in Rector until their deaths last year. When she was younger, Mrs. Blackwood was an avid golfer and bowler. Throughout her life she enjoyed sewing, quilting, reading, playing cards, gardening and cooking. She was a lifelong member of the Methodist church, teaching Sunday School for many years and taking an active role in all of the congregations of which she was a member. As recently as November 2009, she prepared a dinner of chicken and dumplings for 150 people at her church and received rave reviews. Mrs. Blackwood owned her own beauty shop in Batesville, Ark., in the 1950s. She worked in food services as a director of a Memphis high school cafeteria and as owner of restaurants in Memphis, Blytheville, Ark., and Warrenton. In 1963 her family moved to Warrenton where her husband, Wilson, taught sixth grade and junior high math until his death in 1973. She first worked as the cafeteria director in the Wright City School District. Later she owned Leo's Restaurant in Warrenton. While in Warrenton, the family were active members of College United Methodist Church. In her 70s, Mrs. Blackwood moved to Sikeston where she volunteered at the Sikeston Senior Center helping with food preparation and serving lunches to seniors. After two weeks, she was asked to take on the job as paid director of the kitchen services, a position she held for a number of years. While in Sikeston, she reconnected with her dear cousin, Lucille Copeland Martin. They developed a loving friendship that lasted until the day Elsie died. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband W. Wilson Blackwood, son of the late Dr. Walter J. and Mrs. Pearl Ashbaugh Blackwood of Rector, seven brothers and one sister. Mrs. Blackwood is survived by one son, John Blackwood, Warrenton; three daughters, Barbara Bricks, Kennett Square, Pa., Dana Blackwood, Tarboro, N.C., and Janot Prior, Sugar Land, Texas; seven grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; one brother; two sisters; numerous favorite nieces and nephews; other relatives and many friends. A memorial service was held at St. James United Methodist Church, 211 East St. James St., Tarboro, N.C. 27886 Monday, Feb. 15. Memorials to the church are preferred. A graveside service for interment of ashes will take place in Rector, Ark., in the spring. Funeral services for Odette F. Dupree, 83, St. Peters, was held Friday, Feb. 12, at Harvester Church of the Nazarene, St. Peters. Burial will be in Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, St. Louis. Mrs. Dupree died Sunday, Feb. 7, 2010, at Progress Hospital West, O'Fallon. She is survived by two sons, David Stamburski and wife Denise, and Stan Stamburski and wife Mary Ann; one daughter, Anne Stanton; other relatives and many friends. The family was served by Pitman Funeral Home, Wentzville. Memorial services for Earl Martin Schwerdt, 83, Warrenton, were held Saturday, Feb. 6, at Martin Funeral Home, Warrenton. Mr. Schwerdt died Thursday, Feb. 4, 2010, at his home. He is survived by his wife, Queen Schwerdt; one son, Denny Schwerdt and wife, Peggy; other relatives and many friends. The family was served by Martin Funeral Home, Warrenton. Funeral services for Billie Louise Walls, 79, Augusta, will be held Thursday, Feb. 18, at 10 a.m. at Pitman Funeral Home, Augusta. Mrs. Walls died Saturday, Feb. 13, 2010, at her home. She is survived by her husband, Mel Walls; three sons, Mark Walls and wife Sandy, Tim Walls and wife Colleen, and Matt Walls and wife Donna; one daughter, Becky Adams; other relatives and many friends. The family is being served by Pitman Funeral Home, Augusta. Memorial services for Earl Martin Schwerdt, 83, Warrenton, were held Saturday, Feb. 6, at Martin Funeral Home, Warrenton. Mr. Schwerdt died Thursday, Feb. 4, 2010, at his home. He is survived by his wife, Queen Schwerdt; one son, Denny Schwerdt and wife, Peggy; other relatives and many friends. The family was served by Martin Funeral Home, Warrenton.