Loneste Macon Blackwell

Loneste M. Blackwell was born on April 28, 1925 in Danville, Ken­tucky. She was the first of three children born to Peter and Irene Macon. She graduated as Valedictorian in the class of 1944 at Bate High School in Danville. She relocated to Cincinnati, Ohio to attend the University of Cin­cinnati. In April 1953, she completed the Ohio Civil Service test, earning the third highest score. Subsequently, she was interviewed and was hired by the Ohio Industrial Commission as a Clerk 1. She worked her way up the ranks to office manager where she retired after 30 years and 73 days of service! Loneste joined Caldwell Temple AME Zion Church in Columbus, Ohio, where she taught the Sunbeams School Class for 23 years, sung in sev­eral church choirs, and served as Director of the children on the Christian Education Board. She is a Life Member of the Missionary Society and the Layman's Council and Emeritus member of the Board of Stewards. She was active in many labor organizations including OCSEA which she joined on June 2, 1962. She was the retiree representative on the Board of Directors, past President and Treasurer of the Franklin Chapter 2500. She served as a member of the Executive Board. She was the President of the AFSCME Ohio Retiree Chapter 1184; Vice President of the Ohio Alliance of Retired Americans, and Secretary of the AFSCME International Retiree Council. Loneste spent her time working with and supporting OCSEA, Ohio Council 8, OAPSE Local 4, CBTU and the Ohio AFL/C10. She was proud of the work these organizations perform to improve the lives of brothers and sisters. In 1963, Loneste joined the Order of the Eastern Stars, Alpha Chapter #1, where she met a lot of new friends and enjoyed herself while communicating with her new sisters and brothers of the Masonic Order. She was a member of the Kentucky Rendezvous, Inc., Columbus Chapter Charter Member where she served many positions. She was an involved member of these assemblies, as long as her health would allow her. On Tuesday, June 16, 2020, Loneste transitioned from labor to reward. She was preceded in death by her parents Peter and Irene Macon, son William Theodore Macon, and brothers Theodore Franklin Macon and Charles Peter Macon. Loneste is survived by her son, Robert Ervin (Rebecca) Blackwell; grandsons, Christopher Andrew Blackwell and Timothy Aaron Blackwell; godson, Quentin Wesley Singleton; nieces, Marva Joyce Bacon and Doreen Bacon; nephews, John Macon and George Macon; and a host of other family and friends. .