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JENNINGS - The family of Mrs. Mary Christine Johnson Blackwell sadly announces her passing on Feb. 28, 2025, at the age of 82.
A Mass of Christian Burial was held Saturday March 8, beginning at 11 a.m., at Our Lady Help of Christians Catholic Church in Jennings, where Christine was married and received her sacraments.
Father James Brady of St. Pius X Catholic Church officiated.
Prior to the Mass, a gathering of friends and family was held in the church from 10 a.m. until the time of service.
Christine was laid to rest in Calvary Cemetery, under the direction of Miguez Funeral Home.
A resident of Lafayette, Christine Johnson Blackwell was born in her beloved hometown of Jennings to Mae Isabelle (Mazie) Castille Johnson and Christopher C. Johnson on Jan. 27,1943. Her maternal grandparents were Marie Angelina Arnaudet and Dreu Joseph Castille. Christine’s paternal grandparents were Christopher Johnson and Elizabeth Llewellyn Taylor.
Christine was the eldest child in her family of five, her younger sister is Drew Ann Johnson Frey and baby brother, Christopher Jude Johnson.
Christine, as she was known to all, attended elementary school in Jennings through the sixth grade and completed her elementary years at Our Lady of Fatima School in Lafayette as her parents moved to Lafayette for two years. She made good friends in both Jennings and Lafayette who, throughout her life, she remained in contact with and enjoyed.
Christine’s family returned to Jennings where she attended Jennings High School and where she met the love of her life, Earl — or Punk as he is nicknamed. Upon graduation, Christine attended USL in Lafayette where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Education Degree. Christine adored teaching her students. She was a driven, dedicated teacher and her love of children and the importance of education always shined brightly.
She has years in the Lafayette and Acadia Parish school systems and St. Michael Catholic School in Crowley.
Christine married her sweetheart, Earl J. Blackwell, on Nov. 24, 1965. They settled in Crowley for 15 years and had two precious daughters, Christine Claire (Christi) on Nov. 19, 1967, and Charlotte Ann on April 9, 1972.
Christine, Earl and the girls enjoyed their lives in Crowley and in 1980 Punk’s career brought the family to Lafayette for the next seven years. Nashville, Tennessee, was the family destination for the next five years. Lafayette called and they came home. An exciting sprint of seven years in The Woodlands, Texas, and ultimately, Earl and Christine returned to Lafayette as their love of Acadiana and South Louisiana have always been their home.
Christine adored music, dancing, gardening, social occasions, reading, travel and a healthy lifestyle all the while raising her girls and going through life with her sweetheart, Punk. Her Catholic faith was constant and strong.
Our sweet Christine’s Life Declaration reads as follows:
I am grateful for all the blessings I have been given, especially my devout Catholic parents and grandparents, and for Christi and Charlotte, my bright and beautiful girls. But the GREATEST Blessing in my life is my husband, Earl J. Blackwell, who has sustained me for 59 years with his devotion and Infinite kindness. My husband did two things for me every single day of our marriage: Punk loved me, and he was my friend.
Christine is survived by her loving husband, Earl J. Blackwell of Lafayette; her eldest daughter, Christine Claire Blackwell Van Eaton and husband Mark Van Eaton of Lafayette, and her youngest daughter, Charlotte Ann Blackwell Acuff and husband Michael D. Acuff of the Woodlands, Texas; Christine’s cherished grandchildren, Drew Blackwell Van Eaton, Alexander Joseph Van Eaton and wife Malisha Van Eaton, Samuel Mark Van Eaton, Kyle Benjamin Smith, Abb Blackwell Acuff and Owen Michael Acuff; and most recent member and first great-grandchild and namesake, Myla Christina Van Eaton.
She is also survived by her siblings, Drew Ann Johnson Frey of Jennings and Christopher Jude Johnson and wife Kelly of Texas; Christine’s godchildren, Tiffany Frey Theunissen and husband Jay of Jennings, and Christopher Clayton Johnson and wife Tiffany of Brookshire, Texas, James Alfred Bendily and wife Susan of Hermitage, Tennessee, and Jimmy Gainnie III and Chandler of Monroe; along with numerous nieces and nephews, friends and her beautiful cat, Carmella.
The family would like to express a huge appreciation to Miss Barbara and Miss Joanna and Miss Nadine, Nurses Sally, Lara and Leah, Southern Grace Hospice, St. Joseph Hospice and Home Instead, who all provided Christine the most loving care any family could experience.
Christine’s grandsons are honored to carry her to her final place of rest.
Donations can be made in her memory to www.alz.org, the National Alzheimer s Association.