Dorothy Jean "Ms. Dot" Blackwelder

Funeral services for Mrs. Dorothy Jean “Ms. Dot” Blackwelder will be held at 1:00PM Wednesday, April 30, 2025, at North Monroe Baptist Church in the West Venue with Rev. Warren Eckhardt officiating. Interment to follow at Mulhearn Memorial Park Cemetery under the direction of Mulhearn Funeral Home, Sterlington Rd., Monroe. Visitation will precede the service beginning at 12:00PM Wednesday until service time at North Monroe Baptist Church.

Mrs. Blackwelder was born February 4, 1936 and passed away peacefully with family on April 19, 2025. Dorothy was a longstanding member of North Monroe Baptist Church where she served as the Director of the Daycare Ministry for over 36 years. Everyone familiar with the NMBC Daycare simply referred to her as Ms. Dot. She sincerely loved all the children like they were her own and was a blessing and loved by all who came in contact with her.

Dorothy was preceded in death by her husband of 56 years, Ray Blackwelder; mother, Gladys Richardson; father, Curtis Dale; and sister, Carol Kirk.

Survivors include her children, Gary D. Blackwelder (Jacque) Hattiesburg, MS; David Blackwelder, Monroe, LA; Dr. Mark A. Blackwelder (Joanna), Ruston, LA; and Lisa Blackwelder Mahon (Rob), Auburn, AL; brother, Benny Richardson; grandchildren, Megean Blackwelder Shaw (Mat), Mollie Blackwelder Morgan (Robert), Jordan Ray LaSuzzo (Tara); Zachary LaSuzzo (Stephanie), Josh Blackwelder (Nikki), Chase Blackwelder (Harley), Jake Blackwelder, Dr. Cody Blackwelder (Grace), and Dr. Casey Blackwelder Redding (Kyle); sixteen great grandchildren; and a host of friends and other family members.

More than anything Ms Dot loved sharing her home with family, friends, and neighbors and will be sorely missed by all. In later years, she was typically seen accompanied by her Black Lab “Lillie” making the neighborhood rounds.

Pallbearers will be her beloved grandsons, Jordan LaSuzzo, Zach LaSuzzo, Cody Blackwelder, Josh Blackwelder, and Chase Blackwelder and Honorary pallbearer will be her grandson Jake Blackwelder.

Memorials may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital in honor of Mrs. Blackwelder.