Obituary

Gwendolyn Marie Blackburn

September 25, 1964 - September 27, 2025

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”  - Hebrews 11:1

Gwendolyn Marie Blackburn, the daughter of the late Georgia Edith and Willie Ray Blackburn, Sr., was born on September 25, 1964, in San Francisco, California. She graduated from West Valley High School in 1982 before attending Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, Washington. She would eventually earn her Bachelor of Arts in Broadcast Journalism from the University of Alaska.

She worked for various media companies as a reporter, producer, and editor in Austin, Texas; Clarksville, Tennessee; and Fairbanks, Alaska, before establishing Watch Me Shine Now, LLC Media Group while living in Atlanta, Georgia.

She was a loving, kind, supportive, and proud mother to her only child, Havean Nicholas-Drew Blackburn, as well as an avid birder (Creamer’s Field Migratory) and smart, witty Scrabble player.

Affectionately known as Gwen, she was a dedicated community advocate who volunteered for organizations such as Dress for Success, the Black Arts Movement, SXSW Blacks in Technology, TEDx Peachtree, the Atlanta Film Society, Divas With A Cause, Lights Camera Atlanta, and Black Girls Run.

Gwen shared her love for God, running, birds, and karaoke through her extraordinary writing skills via video journaling, photography and several of her self-published books.

God was first and foremost in Gwen’s life. She truly was a God-fearing woman, and you knew it by how she spoke and treated individuals…. especially when she talked about her spiritual journey of how God’s Love, Compassion and Forgiveness strengthened her Faith and gave her great Peace.

On Saturday, September 27, at 1:04 AM our Lord and Savior, came and escorted Gwendolyn Marie Blackburn across the Jordan River to a place where there is no more sickness, sorry or pain. She was not alarmed at the thought of dying, knew her time had come and found assurance in the words of one of her favorite songs, "Take Me To The King". 

Gwendolyn Marie Blackburn was preceded in death by her infant son, Avion Blackburn; mother, Georgia E. Blackburn; father, Willie R. Blackburn, Sr.; sister, Angel Georgia Blackburn; grandmother, Mary Lee Johnson; grandmother, Ollie Mae Blackburn; grandfather, Matthew Blackburn, Sr. 

She is survived by her loving son, Havean of Austin, Texas; three brothers, and two sisters who cherish her memory: Lester V. Blackburn of Fairbanks, Alaska. Willie R. Blackburn, Jr. (Debra) of Fairbanks, Alaska, Benjamin R. Blackburn of Fairbanks, Alaska, Jacqueline M. Bradley of Houston, Texas; and Maryline Blackburn of Smyrna, Georgia.

She is also remembered with love by her nieces and nephews, Katina, Glenn, Larisa, Casey, Rosemary, Willie III, Whitne’, Anthony, Quinton, and Zavier; several great-nieces and nephews, including Calvin Joseph, Tyler Joseph, Isaac Matthew, Donte Treyvon, Lailah Wade, Alainah Rose, Camila Marisol, and Ezra Mae; and a host of aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends. 

Services will be on October 4, 2025 at Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church in Mt. Hermon, Louisiana. Visitation will be from 1:00 PM until the Funeral Service at 3:00 PM.

Crain and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.