Roll Call Tribute

Michael Lloyd "Mike" Blackwell 

July 11, 1949 - June 18, 2024 

Michael Lloyd Blackwell, 74, of Madison, Mississippi, passed away peacefully on June 18, 2024, after an extended battle with renal cell carcinoma.

Mike was born on July 11, 1949, to Mark and Mardell Blackwell in Bloomington, Indiana. Mike graduated from Honey Creek High School in Terra Haute, Indiana, where he was a stand out student athlete. He received an athletic scholarship to Indiana State University where he lettered in football and baseball.

After graduating from Indiana State University in 1971, he continued to seek his masters degree in geophysics from Texas A&M University. His career in the oil and gas industry began with Texaco, leading him to Hunt Entergy in Dallas, TX. He then formed a 40 year partnership with Don Noblitt as co-owners of the Mississippi Oil Company. Not only did he pursue oil investments, but was an avid investor in many unique projects.

He was active his entire life, enjoying tennis and golf. He also was a talented woodworker who assisted in the construction of many buildings in his community including: Madison-Ridgeland Academy and St. Marks United Methodist Church along with many of his own homes. He served as a youth coach for many years in the Madison-Ridgeland area, taught multiple Sunday School classes, and loved to participate in the church's production of The Last Supper.

In his most recent years, he was named to the Indiana State University Athletic Hall of Fame and was a proud donor to Indiana State University. In his honor, the university dedicated their Sports Performance Complex to him in 2022.

If there was ever any need in his lifetime, great or small, Mike seemed to meet those needs with a faithful, giving heart, never expecting anything in return.

Mike married his high school sweetheart, Mary Lee Brussell, in May of 1970. Together they have three children, Sarah (Pat) McKenough, Jennie (Bert) Vandevere, and Emily Blackwell. He was also a proud grandfather of Hayden and Mary Grace McKenough, Lilla and Wells Vandevere, and Hattie and John Parker Tillman. He is also survived by his three brothers: Alan (Cathy) Blackwell, Richard (Linda) Blackwell, Charles (Tammy), and many beloved cousins, nieces and nephews.

The family would like to thank the many doctors and nurses from Jackson Oncology Associates and Chris Funkhouser from St. Dominic's Family Medicine. We would also like to thank our many caregivers including Renay Ross and our Covenant Caregivers: Pat Powers and Clydorius Spires.

Visitation will be held at Madison Methodist Church on Friday evening, June 21, 2024 from 5pm - 7pm and again on Saturday, June 22, 2024 from 9:30 - 10:30am. Following visitation on Saturday, a memorial service will be held at 10:30am. In typical Mike Blackwell fashion, no socks are necessary and are requested!

In Lieu of Flowers, the family requests contributions be made to the Fellowship of Christian Athletes; University of Pittsburgh, Division of Pathology, National Sports Brain Bank and Neurodegenerative Disease Research, or The Mustard Seed.