Oct. 6, 1932 – Jan. 7, 2013

NATCHEZ — Services for Mary Kathryn McNeil Blackwood, 80, of Natchez, who died Monday, Jan. 7, 2013, at St. Dominic Hospital in Jackson, will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at Washington United Methodist Church with the Rev. Reed McCaleb officiating.

Burial will follow at the Natchez City Cemetery under the direction of Laird Funeral Home.

Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home and from 10 a.m. until service time Thursday at the church.

Mrs. Blackwood was born Oct. 6, 1932, in Natchez, the daughter of George Lewis McNeil and Ruby O’Quinn McNeil. She received a bachelor’s degree in education from Belhaven College in 1953. She taught school for a number of years before devoting her life to her husband’s ministry. They served in the Louisiana Methodist Conference for more than 40 years. After their retirement, they lived on Myrtle Grove Farm in Washington, her childhood home.

Mrs. Blackwood was preceded in death by her parents and her husband, the Rev. Wallace P. Blackwood.

Survivors include two sons, Mac Blackwood and wife, Patti, of Washington and Marc Blackwood and wife, Sissy, of Natchez; three grandchildren, Kris Blackwood of Bay St. Louis, Joelle Blackwood Cooper of Hattiesburg and John Harrison Neal of Minden, La.; two step-grandchildren, Katie Beach of Vidalia and Paige Dickey of Natchez; and a number of great-grandchildren.

Pallbearers will be Kris Blackwood, Shayne Cooper, John Neal, Alan Wadsworth, Mike McGehee and Reynolds Atkins.

Memorials may be made to Washington United Methodist Church.

Online condolences may be sent to www.lairdfh.com.