Ethel Blackman

ETHEL MARIE BLACKMAN died unexpectedly and peacefully in her home on Monday, September 4, 2017 in Baltimore, Maryland at the age of 67. Ethel Marie Blackman was born on March 18, 1950 in Salisbury, North Carolina to Edna Blanche Carr and Charles Edward Blackman. Ethel attended Sunday School at Mount Moriah Baptist Church as a youth gaining her spiritual foundation. She graduated from Forest Park Senior High School in 1969. On November 9, 1969, Ethel gave birth to Crystal Wiggins, her only child... the light of her life... and the reason Ethel worked so hard throughout her life. Ethel's family was beyond the immediate; if you saw Ethel, you saw Edna, the two being inseparable. Edna was more than just Ethel's mother, she was Ethel's roommate, driving partner, voice of reason and best friend. Ethel's first cousins were more like brothers and sisters to her; Wanetta, Hepburn, Diane Pitts and Stephen Cauthen, to name a few but especially Suzie, who was only 6 months older than Ethel. Suzanne Cauthen Cranson spent every day of the last week Ethel graced this earth with her; though they often fought like cats in North Carolina, Maryland, and everywhere in between, the loved and leaned on each other all of their lives. This love extended to Suzie's children, Camille and Christophe; Ethel never missed a graduation, birthday party, or special event no matter where they occurred on the East Coast for Camille and Christophe. Ethel raised Crystal and worked for years at United Book Press and Port City Press; at each of those employers, Ethel made friends for life, completed her job, and demonstrated an amazing work ethic often working overtime or covering the shift of a colleague. Ethel was proud of her job but even prouder of the accomplishments of her daughter Crystal. Ethel and Crystal were just as close as Edna and Ethel. Ethel would do Crystal's hair and they talked everyday. If Ethel could, she would for Crystal. In May of 1997, Crystal graduated from college and in August 1998, Christopher Quinlan Wiggins entered Ethel's life giving her the role she loved most, grandmother. Ethel supported Christopher in school plays as a crab, on the football field, playing basketball or in any area of his life. From his first picture to his earliest school work, Ethel proudly displayed her love for all things Christopher, and with her energetic heart she did the same for Kayla, Sierra and Mackenzie. Ethel attended recitals, cheer-leading competitions and graduations. Ethel recently began to enjoy baking cakes with Mackenzie every week as their special time together. Ethel loved her family, the Orioles, the Wizards, and those Ravens. She was a proud Baltimore Gal at heart. Ethel is survived by: her loving mother, Edna Blanche Carr of Baltimore, Maryland; her daughter Crystal Victoria Wiggins of Baltimore, Maryland; grandson, Christopher Quinlan Wiggins of Baltimore, Maryland; siblings, Patricia Blackman of Salisbury, North Carolina. She is preceded in death by her father, Charles Edward Blackman of Cleveland, North Carolina; her step-father, Silvino "Cookie" Serrano of Old San Juan, Puerto Rico and her sister, Martha Lucille Blackman of Salisbury, North Carolina. Special thank you to Suzanne Cranson, Nitza Larbie, Christophe Cranson, Camille, Cranson, Brandy Reazer, Wanetta Hepburn, Nikole Hepburn, Nathan Addams, Erica Falcon, Mayola Thomas, Jayla Flemming, Jalais Flemming, Penny and Michael Schwartz and Andre Brown.

Tributes

Ethel Blackman

March 18, 1950 - September 4, 2017