Alfredia Heaggans Blackwell

Mrs. Alfredia Heaggans Blackwell, 94, of Troutman, passed away at her home on Sunday Dec. 1, 2024 surrounded by her family. She was born a twin in the Lundale Community of Logan County West Virginia on June 25th, 1930, and was the daughter of the late Charlie Heaggans and Emma Rankin Heaggans.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her son Robert Blackwell; a granddaughter, Tiffany Blackwell and nine brothers, David, John, James, Richard, Preston, Shirley, twin Walter, Sam, and Rufus Heaggans as well as two sisters,  Onevva Heaggans and Gladys Stevenson.

“Fret” as she was affectionately known, joined Mt Tabor at an early age and attended Sunday School, sang in the choir and was a member of the young adult group. “After graduating in 1951 from Unity High School in Statesville, she relocated to New York City where she met and married Robert Blackwell in 1953. They were married for 72 years.

Mom was selfless and lived a life of service. She joined Siloam Presbyterian Church under the ministry of the Reverend Dr. Milton A. Galamison and was faithful member for over 50 years. During her years, she served as a member of the Chancel Choir for 48 years. She served as the choir librarian for 30 years where she came to the church during the week to collate, catalog and arrange large amounts of music in the church’s extensive library. She was able, at a glance, to identify any piece of music. As a choir member, she attended rehearsals regardless of inclement weather, walking if other transportation was not available. She was an Ordained Deacon in Siloam for over 25 years. She was the epitome of a Deacon. When anyone was ill and needed special attention, she would visit them and take care of their special needs. She saw to the preparation of communion, posted the hymns and took care of the needs of all the pastors between services.

She was a very unique and special person as well as a prolific writer. She left a manuscript about the Heaggans family. She was not the type who straddled the fence but stood firm in her convictions. She loved many genres of music; religious, classical and standard. She especially loved the blues. But, most of all, she loved the Lord and the hymns she grew up on. She was very observant. Anything that was left undone, she would take the initiative to remain behind to make sure it got done. She noticed the needs and wants of others and she would fulfill them even if it meant giving up her own. This made her an excellent comptometrist and manager of the Comptometry Department for Mays Department stores where she worked for 30 years until her retirement. She received numerous awards and recognitions throughout her life time and was an outstanding volunteer for many programs and activities in the church and her community. She was a member and President of The Maria Lawton Senior Citizen Center up until she relocated back to North Carolina.

Her love will live on through her husband, Robert Blackwell, her daughter, Bonita Blackwell, great-grandson, TyQwon Blackwell, grandchildren Tosha and Robert Jones of  Brooklyn NY, great-grandchildren, Latrell, Lagail and Jacob Jones and Lamair Cross of Brooklyn NY and her special “seng” Oswald Boyce of Middleton NY, her brother, Joe Heaggans and sister Vernie Smith as well as a  host of nieces and nephews.

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