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Eagle Hall Main Road | St. Michael | Barbados

Walwyn Blackman April 7, 2023

Date of Funeral

April 22, 2023

WALWYN SPENCER GODDARD BLACKMAN, F.C.A

Aged 77 of Rock Dundo Park, St. Michael; retired Accountant.

Son of the late Wilfrid & Eileen Blackman;

Beloved husband of almost 50 years to Shirley Blackman;

Dearest father of Tara Blackman;

Loving grandfather of Kyle & Kaleb Blackman-Gibbons;

Brother of Jeanne Rowe, the late Sir Courtney Blackman, Barbara Hazel Blackman, Pauline Beckles and Janice Alleyne;

Nephew of the late Winifred Blackman;

Uncle of Chris, Keith, Martin & Barry Blackman, Kim Dickerson, Craig Rowe,  Harold Adrian Beckles, Dr. Jeanne Beckles, Aya Beckles-Swanson, Sharron Alleyne-Elcock, and Lisa Alleyne-Foster;

Great uncle of 16 and great-great uncle of one;

Cousin of the late Edgar and Irene Berry, Telford, Merton & Verna Hewitt and John Mayers;

Brother-in-law of Gloria Lady Blackman, Wilfred W. Beckles, David King;  the late Sheilah King-Watson, Vere Rowe and Deighton Alleyne;

Godfather of Carol Martindale, Dr. Chantal Clarke, Claire Edwards, Natalee Harrigan, Elan Greenidge, Christine Mills & Charmaine Mensah (Twin), Craig Fields and others;

Relative of the Adams, Berry, Breedy, Grayson, Hewitt and Mayers families;

Friend of Terrance Gibbons, Julia Cox, Dianne Marshall, the Greenidge family, Clifford and Dawn Edwards; Kathryn Lady Cyrus & the late Sir Arthur Cecil Cyrus (St. Vincent); Glynn & William Lyons, Cynthia & Ronald Blackman(Canada), Professor Dr. Hilbourne Watson (USA); the late Adrian Edwards and many others.

The funeral of the late Walwyn Spencer Goddard Blackman, FCA leaves Downes and Wilson Funeral Home, Eagle Hall, St. Michael on Saturday, April 22, 2023 for Sharon Moravian Church, St. Thomas where relatives and friends are asked to meet at 9:30 a.m. for the service, followed by the interment at St. David’s Anglican Churchyard, Christ Church.

The Organist and members of the choir are kindly asked to attend. Wreaths may be sent to Downes and Wilson Funeral Home, Eagle Hall, St. Michael on Saturday, April 22, 2023 no later than 7 a.m.

Relatives and friends may pay their last respects at Downes and Wilson Funeral Home on Friday, April 21, 2023 from 4 p.m. – 6 p.m.

Live Streaming at https://eternally-cherished.online/WalwynBlackman

And Downes & Wilson Funeral Home YouTube Channel

Condolences(7)

  1. REPLY
    Greta (Genie) Mccollin nee Gollop says

    My dear cousin Geoffrey has gracefully described our childhood days. Janice and I were part of the group, whether, it was kite flying cricket or bicycle riding on the road above the church in front of our homes. The Gollop’s and the Blackman’s were two dedicated families.
    Wally accomplished much success in life. He worked hard and always followed the path of honesty. The path he laid down is one thing worth emulating.
    “Lives of great men all remind us, we can make our lives subline and departing leave behind us footprints on the sand of time”
    Rest in peace my childhood friend.
    Condolences go out to the Blackman family from the Gollop family.

  2. REPLY
    Jan Lewis says

    My sincere sympathy to Shirley, Tara and family. I have always admired Wally and Shirley. I remember when I was first at work and had to wait outside Collins for a lift home with my Dad I would see Shirley and Wally waiting as well. Subsequently after my marriage to Mike Lewis I saw a lot more of them at Sharon.
    Wally may you rest in peace and rise in glory. You were a great guy.

  3. REPLY
    Grace Bible Church says

    To the family of the late Walwyn Blackman, we extend our deepest sympathies to you during this difficult time. You are in our thoughts and prayers.

    You can reach us at:
    Email: purposewithhope@gmail.com
    Church: Grace Bible Church, Paddock Road, St. Michael
    Tel.no.: 250-0192

  4. REPLY
    Geoffrey Alleyne says

    It is with a heavy heart that I write this tribute to Wally. Wally was my neighbour growing up in St. David’s Village. Wally was like a big brother and a mentor to me when I was very young. My first note book he gave me after I saw his. I learned to play cricket in the passageway beside their home. Wally made the bat and Winston Chase who along with his brother Lawrence lived on the other side of the Blackmans made the ball. As we grew older, we played on the school pasture. We had to make certain that Wally was always present since we knew that once he was there his dad who was the headmaster would not chase us. He was the only boy I could hang out with that was sanctioned by my grandmother. I learned to ride a bicycle by using his ladies’ wheel. From him I learned about electricity. One long vacation he built a house complete with batteries and lights. He bought batteries and bulbs and installed them on my roller, the type that you made using a stick from the clamor cherry tree, with wheels made from old milk cans, and a steering handle made from a paint skillet cover and a cotton roller. He showed me how to use a magnifying glass to set fire to paper. There was nothing he couldn’t do with his hands. I remember on one vacation home I went to say hello to his mother, whom we all affectionately called “Muh Ma”, and I told her that he should be an engineer instead of an accountant. She said that he could repair anything and was very good with his hands which was the opposite of his illustrious brother. My uncle who was also a neighbour used to keep a cow. He was a bookkeeper at Wildey plantation and every two weeks he would send up food (grass and/or cane tops) for the cow by a horse with a cart which had car/truck wheels. I, Wally, Winston, and Lawrence would climb in the back of the cart when the guy started heading back to Wildey and proceed to jump out once we got by the “Y” after the Church. I remember Winston starting to collect the pellets that the horse deposited thinking that they were eddoes, we all had a great laugh.
    Guy Fawkes (November 5th) night was special, Wally used to put on quite a show on the school pasture. He used to have all types of fireworks (rockets, firecrackers, bandits, etc.) while we mere mortals had only starlights. Most of the kids and even adults from the Village used to attend. Wally, his mum and his siblings used to worship at the old Social Hall Pilgrim Holiness Church. I attended the Anglican Church but used to go to many functions at the Pilgrim Holiness since quite a lot of my friends worshipped there. During the long vacation for a couple of years white missionaries used to visit from I believe the United States. They used to have a week of activities for the children and I along with my brother would attend. On the Friday afternoon they would be a show and a quiz competition. I can vividly remember Wally sitting behind me and prompting me with the answers so that I could win a prize.
    I remember when I was in class 3, I had a scuffle with a chap named Dave Lavine. When I went home at lunchtime, I got an old needle from a bicycle 3-speed gear box and brought it back to school. At 3 o’clock when the bell rung to signal the end of school I waited until we were outside and proceeded to punch Dave’s arm with the needle. We both turned around. I took off at full speed for home while he went into the school to tell Mr. Blackman. The next day (Saturday) I was hanging out with Wally, Winston, and Lawrence when Wally told me what his father was going to do with me on Monday morning. Mr. Blackman didn’t believe in, “sparing the rod.” He loved to use his strap. He showed no mercy. Wally and Janice, whom we called Jan, who along with the rest of their siblings went to the boys’ school were not immune. Wally was the youngest and with only one bathroom at home had to wait until all the others had finished bathing. If he got school late, he was flogged just like any other boy. Naturally after Wally told me that I was scared to death and didn’t want to go to school on Monday. The next day I took a piece of broken bottle and tried to cut the bottom of one of my feet, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. That Monday I made certain that I kept a very low profile and that my eyes and Mr. Blackman’s didn’t make 4. I would say that I was very lucky because Mr. Blackman’s desk was on a platform, and he had full view of every class except for classes 5 and 6 which were behind the platform in another section of the building which was closed off except for a door.
    With the passage of time Wally started working while I remained at school and as expected our interest changed and naturally, we didn’t see each other that often yet we remain close. He got married to the love of his life Shirley who had a perch from the second floor of Collins building on Broad Street and could see everyone who passed. I was at their wedding in 1973. The next year I emigrated to Montreal to start a life of my own. I was fortunate that his sister Jeanne also lived here and over the years we have kept in touch and often reminisce about growing up in the Village. Of course, any conversation would not be complete if I didn’t ask her how Wally was doing.
    Over the years on my return to the island for vacations I always sought him out. I remember when he was the president of the cargo company, I paid a surprise visit to his office in the old Oistin’s Plaza. It was several years that I had not return to the island. He was surprised to see me but did not recognize me. He kept saying that he knew me and all I did was laugh. Eventually he shouted out, “Geoffrey” and we embraced and had a great laugh. The last time I was home was in 2016. I happened to go to the supermarket in Skymall and while at the checkout line saw him enter. I immediately took of to find him. I saw him in one of aisle pondering what to buy. I came up from behind stuck a finger in his back and said, “Gimme all yuh money. “Naturally I startled him, he spun around, looked at me and cheupsed. He then said, “how long are you here for.” We chatted for a while, I asked him for Shirley and Jan. We departed with a promise to meet again but it never happened.
    Three of his siblings (Courtney, Pauline, and Jan) passed just under 2 years. Jan’s passing was especially difficult for me since she and Wally being the last, I had grown up with. Thus, when I heard that he was in the hospital I hoped that he would have a full and speedy recovery but that was not to be. His death has been that much harder than Jan’s. All the Blackmans kids were down to earth. They never passed anyone. Here in Montreal, I have met guys who were older than I who went to St. David’s boys. They often ask me for Wally. He was a great guy whom I will miss. Farewell Wally until we meet again. To Shirley, their daughter Tara and her family, and Jeanne and her family and all the other members of the Blackman family I offer you sincere condolences on behalf of my Rosalind and I, and the rest of my family. May he RIP and RIG.

    Geoffrey Alleyne
    Montreal, Canada

  5. REPLY
    Bruce Hennis says

    To Shirley and Tara : deepest and sincerest condolences.
    I truly enjoyed being around “Wally”.

  6. REPLY
    Gillian says

    Sincere condolences to Shirley, Tara, grandsons and the family of Wally. May God comfort you at this time. RIP Wally

  7. REPLY
    Trishad whitehall says

    me and my family send out condolences to you and your family sorry for your loss
    Rip
    RIG

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