Mrs. Thelma Mae McCowan Blackburn. 87, of Talbotton, Georgia, passed Thursday, February 17, 2022 at the Westbury Health and Rehabilitation Center in McDonough, GA.

Graveside service will be held at 1 PM EST, Saturday February 26, at Green Acres Cemetery, Columbus, GA. Rev. Franklin Holmes, Pastor of Shady Grove Baptist Church, Talbotton, GA and Rev. Alfred Bunkley, Pastor of Antioch Missionary Baptist Church, Butler, GA will officiate. Service will be live-streamed (see clickable link below)

Visitation is Friday, February 25, 2022 from 12 noon - 2 PM EST., according to Progressive Funeral Home, Inc., Columbus.

Mrs. Blackburn was born March 14, 1934 to the Late Grady McCowan and the Late Thomasine Bunkley McCowan in Talbotton, GA. She was a long-time resident in the Carver Heights neighborhood of Columbus. GA.

She was a member of Shady Grove Baptist Church, Talbotton, GA and graduate of Talbotton Colored High School in 1953. She worked for the Flournoy and Calhoun-Douglas families both of Columbus until her retirement.

She was preceded in death by her sister Mrs. Bertha Lee Mathis, her Uncle Preston and Aunt Charlie Jackson, cousins/adoptive brother’s Lewis Jackson, Sr. (Lillie), and Beufus Bunkley (Starla), adoptive sister, Mozelle Jackson.

She leaves to cherish her sweet memories her only child Todd G. Blackburn (Trennye) of Ellenwood, GA, nieces Penelope “Penny” Mathis of Talbotton, GA and Alinda Mathis of McDonough, GA, cousins/adoptive brothers Willie Jackson (Joyce) of Forest Park, GA, Michael Jackson (Gloria) of Covington, GA, David Jackson, Napoleon Jackson of Conyers, GA, adoptive sisters Beulah J. Jones of Winter Haven, FL, Carrie Jackson Martin of College Park, GA, a special family members Birdie Hodges of Columbus, GA, and Columbus, GA work families, Flournoy family, Calhoun-Douglas family, adoptive daughter Darneta Jones and a host of cousins, family and friends.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Morris Brown College for the Thelma M. Blackburn Memorial Sch. Fund. Morris Brown College, Institutional Advancement, 643 M.L.K., Jr., Dr., NW, Atlanta, GA 30314.

The Staff of Progressive Funeral Home is honored to be selected to provide end of life services.