Annie Laverne Blackmon

Annie Laverne Strickland Blackmon, 97, of Shreveport, LA went to be with her Lord and Savior on October 17, 2017. She passed away peacefully after a very brief illness. She was a daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and friend who was loved by all who knew her. Laverne had a deep faith and poured out her life for the Lord, her family, friends, and her church. She worked hard all of her life but maintained a sharp wit and loved a good laugh. Annie Laverne Strickland was born January 25, 1920 in Sabine Parish, LA to John Azah and Lenora Elizabeth Skinner Strickland. She met Norris Blackmon at Mt. Carmel School. They were married December 22, 1940 in Sabine Parish, LA. In the early years of their marriage they lived in various places before settling in Shreveport, LA where Norris became an officer with SPD. She was a devoted, full-time homemaker until 1963 when she started to work at LSU Medical Center as a CNA and later as a Clerk in the Medicine Clinic. She retired in 1989. She loved to work in her yard where no weed was safe from her grasp. She was known for her delicious desserts, especially her chocolate pie, which sometimes brought as much as $100 in the church's teen fund raiser. It wasn't unusual for her to make a pie and deliver it to a neighbor "Just because". She mailed countless birthday, anniversary, get well and sympathy cards to family and friends throughout the years. She was generous to any one she thought had a need and every Monday she had a treat ready for the trash collectors "Because they work so hard." She would send a little check in the mail to someone she knew had a need. In 1995, she was honored by her church with a Distinguished Service Award for her years of service. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Norris Blackmon; son-in-law, Rollin Gilliland; 4 brothers and 4 sisters. She is survived by her daughter, Margaret Gilliland of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; son, Norris "Randy" Blackmon of Shreveport, LA; granddaughter Jessica and grandson Turner of Idaho Falls, Idaho; sister, Robbie Peterson of Shreveport, LA, Betty Whittington (Donald) of Shreveport, LA and Mary Lou McClung ( Weldon) of Florine, LA and numerous nieces and nephews. Visitation will be held Friday, October 20, 2017 at 6:00 p.m. till 8:00 p.m. at Grace Point Church of The Nazarene with services at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, October 21, 2017 at Grace Point Church of The Nazarene. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The Worship Center, Grace Point Church of The Nazarene. Family wishes to express appreciation to the staff at Heritage Manor Stratmore for their care over the recent years