Obituary of Lois Blackwell Merrell

Lois Blackwell Merrell, 102, passed away on Wednesday, November 29, 2023 at Countryside Manor. Lois was born in Camden, South Carolina where she grew up with her three brothers and two sisters. She has one surviving sister, Ella Mae Hayes, who lived in Columbia, South Carolina. Lois was the daughter of the late Ella and Arthur Blackwell.

She married Willard Merrell on February 1, 1946 and they had one son, Chadwick who passed away in 2016. Lois worked at Hermitage Mills for 36 years from May 1949 until she retired in August 1985. After Willard passed away in 2008, she moved to Greensboro, North Carolina to be close to family.

In addition to her sister, Ella Hayes, she is survived by her daughter-in-law, Jo Merrell; one grandson, Chad Merrell and his wife Tricia and three great grandchildren, Preston, Mary Grace and Thomas Merrell. Lois was known to the family as “Great Mama”. She will be missed by her family in North and South Carolina who loved her very much.

A graveside service will be held at 1 pm on Wednesday, December 6, 2023 at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, 1659 Kershaw Hwy, Camden, SC 29020.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to Hermitage Baptist Church Building Fund, 814 Jefferson Davis Highway, Camden, South Carolina 29020.