Margie Blackwood

Margaret Elizabeth Graham Blackwood, 86, was called home to be with her beloved Lord Jesus Christ on Nov. 16, 2011. She was a Proverbs 31 wife to her husband, Roy Blackwood.

Margie was born June 30, 1925, in Ambridge, Pa., to Rev. Dr. Thomas E. and Wilba K. Barber Graham. They preceded her in death, as did her brothers David, Paul, and Wylie. After graduating from Ambridge High School, Margie worked for a ship builder in Ambridge making landing ship transports for the U.S. Navy during World War II. Later she attended Geneva College, where she graduated with a degree in secondary education. In 1948 she married Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary student Roy Blackwood. Mrs. Blackwood taught English, social studies, and guidance in Indianapolis public schools. She wrote poetry and played the piano all through her life.

Mrs. Blackwood is survived by her husband of 63 years, Dr. Roy Blackwood, her children, William Andrew Blackwood (Lynda) of Scotland, Elizabeth May Brodie (Robert) of England, and Robert Roy Blackwood (Toni) of Ft. Wayne, Ind. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Hannah Woods (Jonathan), Peter Blackwood, Kathryn Reinhart (Tony), Thomas Blackwood, Graham Blackwood, her great-granddaughter Evangeline Joy Woods, and her sister Ruth Duncan of McMurray, Pa.

–Indianapolis Star

Though not known as an evangelist like Billy Graham or Billy Sunday, Margie Blackwood saw quite a few conversions in her 86 years of life on earth.

Margie was the quiet influence on her husband, Roy Blackwood. He’s known as a founding pastor of many churches, including Second Reformed Presbyterian in Indianapolis. He also has been a teacher of church history; a disciplemaker in the pattern of Paul in 2 Timothy 2:1-10; a mentor for many younger pastors; a zealous advocate of the doctrine of Christ’s kingship over all areas of life. She was the human influence behind the scenes to make Dr. Blackwood so useful for Christ’s kingdom in church, state, family and business.

She had an unusual way of sensing the Lord’s work in the life of a young person–after school, in church school classes, or in later years when she taught a Sabbath evening time with the children, the Covenanter Hour, at Second RPC. She’d share the gospel through stories of the persecution of the Covenanters in the 17th Century as she taught the children to memorize the Shorter Catechism. Margie was a quiet evangelist, behind the scenes, a blessed example of the doctrine of the mediatorial kingship of Christ. She loved the King and taught us how to share in that love.

–Russ Pulliam