Eufaula Blackwell

Eufaula S. Blackwell was known as a lover of life, and her days were enriched and fulfilled by all the wonderful people with whom she shared her living years.

She was born Eufaula Louise Seals in Brooklyn, New York on March 4, 1947 to Eufaula Frazier and Frank Calvin Seals. Her parents provided a happy childhood for Eufaula and her lifelong love for New York City was born.

She was educated in the New York School System while living in Brooklyn, and was an active, conscientious student during her primary years and continued to excel throughout her secondary education. She served as Class President, Choral Director, member of the Leadership Club, participated on the Debate Team and Spanish Club. Upon high school graduation in 1964 in Bedford Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, she moved to Atlanta, Georgia to study Psychology and Spanish at Clark College. Never one to rest, she taught Spanish and English abroad during her summer breaks. While at Clark College, she met and married a fellow AUC student, David L. Garrett, Jr.

Shortly after they married, David and Eufaula relocated to Brooklyn, New York to be near her parents when they welcomed their first child, Eufaula Kalyie -- who her parents nicknamed, Snooky, -- a name which stuck for life. Life would soon take the Garretts to Iowa City, Iowa. Eufaula would take Snooky with her everywhere. Together they explored volunteer opportunities, studied at the graduate library where she could feed her passion for reading, and they would visit other places in the city where she had formed several friendships that would last a lifetime.

Eufaula was the life of the party - - she loved life, music and was an excellent dancer as a young woman. She, particularly, enjoyed & entertaining house guests.

Soon life would take David, Eufaula and their daughter back to New York and they would welcome a son, Craig, into the family. They would then move to Rochester, New York. Here, Eufaula discovered a passion for law enforcement and became a Deputy Sheriff for Monroe County Sheriff’s Department. She frequented the gun range to hone her craft, and her love for music and animals began to take shape. Her curiosities never waned as she always sought out new ways to delve into her passions for living.

Eufaula would later remarry Rick Blackwell and they lived together for years in Rochester, NY. He preceded her in death.

Eufaula and Craig later relocated to Atlanta, Georgia, the place where her parents returned home to retire. As her son finished school, Eufaula worked in retail management. Eufaula was a dedicated mother and was always supremely focused on her children’s education and their individual success in life. Her children- an economist and a mechanical engineer- would both end up working in the music industry and Eufaula’s love for music would be fostered because of it. She became a fixture at local music shows as well as concert venues across the country. She was known as “Ma Dukes, Mama Garrett or Big Eufaula” because she was always with her children. If one knew Eufaula’s children, one knew Eufaula. She took immense pride and delight in being a staple in their lives as the matriarch of the community they created.

Eufaula was an avid traveler and also encouraged her children to get passports at a young age so they could see and experience the world. She met life’s every adventure head on and encouraged a “no fear” attitude amongst her children. She loved fishing, snorkeling, riding horseback, riding four-wheelers, boating, skydiving, and even swimming with whale sharks. She loved seeing the world and especially loved visiting Mexico, Belize, the Caribbean Islands, South Africa, Savannah and, of course, her beloved New York City.

Those travels often involved a Harley Davidson as Eufaula developed a love for riding motorcycles when she lived in New York. Her neighbors rode and they had an informal group that rode together. Later when living in Atlanta, much to his chagrin, she would sneak Craig’s motorcycle out of the garage to take it for a spin.

Eufaula was notoriously quick-witted, funny and loved to have a little secret to tell you. She created magic little bonds with everyone she met and would recall one little detail you mentioned years prior and surprise you with it at just the right time.

Eufaula loved people, but she was also an avid animal lover. She was devoted to King, the dog she got for her daughter in Iowa City; faithful to Simba, her beloved German Shepherd; and committed to her dog, ’Biggie Smalls’, her loving companion who never left her side. They loved her and she considered them as members of the family.

Eufaula S. Blackwell loved deeply and lived life to the fullest. She took advantage of every single moment and departed this life on the same day she entered - - her birthday. Her life’s mission was completed, and she was at peace knowing her children were leading full, happy lives and would always continue to make her proud by taking care of one another. She was full of passion and will be missed by all those who knew her.

Among the many things that gave Eufaula tremendous pride was the large extended and blended family that she was blessed to have as an only child herself, the chosen family who embraced her was a precious gift. She leaves behind to cherish her many beloved friends who became family - - like her ‘chosen, blood ceremony sister’, Phyllis Jones and many surrogate children. Most importantly she leaves behind her most precious memories, her two children, Eufaula K. Garrett and Craig M. Garrett.