JOE N. BLAKNEY SR.

Joe Nathan Blakney, Sr., 89 of Worcester, MA died at home on Monday, June 1, 2021, surrounded by his loving family.

Joe was born on November 3, 1931, in Samantha, Alabama to the late Posey and Myrtie  Prewitt Blakney.   Joe received his education at Holly Spring High School in Samantha, Alabama, later continuing his education at Northport Country Training School where he graduated.

Joe was employed at Harvey Furniture Company and later worked at Ryco Chemical Plant for 26 years both in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.  Joe served in the United States Army in Korean War from 1953 – 1955.  On August 2, 1959, he united in holy matrimony to Margaret Humphries.  He moved to Massachusetts in 1963 and received a job at Wyman and Gordon Company where he worked as a security guard for 35 years before he retired.

He confessed Christ at an early age.  While in Alabama, he was a longtime member of the Ebenezer Baptist Church of Northport, Alabama and here in Massachusetts he was a member of Liberty Church of Shrewsbury, MA.

His memories will forever live on through a loving and devoted wife Margaret Blakney ; his three children, Valerie Blakney of Worcester, Joe N Blakney Jr. of Tuscaloosa, Alabama and Michael Blakney and his wife Lynn of Worcester. A brother, Jimmie Blakney and his wife Alice of Sagiaw, MI; seven grandchildren , Justin Latendress, Jamal Blakney, Cameron Brown, Maliyah Blakney, MO’khyra Blakney of Worcester, MA. , Mikaylah Blakney of Texas, Okami Brown of Fort Lauderale, FL; three great grandchildren, many nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins. He was preceded in death by a grandson, Marcus A. Blakney ; two brothers, Walter and Porter Lee Blakney   Sr.: two sisters, Mary Clement and Nealie Burns of Birmingham, Alabama.

A period of calling hours will held on Thursday June 17, 2021 from 4:00 PM – 6:00PM in the MERCADANTE FUNERAL HOME AND CHAPEL , 370 Plantation St ., Worcester. His funeral services will be celebrated on Friday, June 18^th  at 11:00 AM in Liberty Church, 495 Hartford Turnpike, Shrewsbury, MA.  Burial with military funeral honors will follow at Worcester Country Memorial Park, 217 Richards Avenue, Paxton.