Vema E. Blackman

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Vema E. Blackman, 89, a resident of Stonefort, died at 4:45 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2011, at Fairview Nursing Center, Du Quoin.

She was born on May 12, 1921, in Mount Vernon to Charles Askew and Grace Wells Askew. She married Edgar "Ed" Blackman on June 27, 1963, and he preceded her in death on Oct. 31, 1993.

She was retired from the cap factory in Harrisburg and attended the Antioch Church in Stonefort.

She is survived by a niece, Brenda Dorris of Mount Vernon; and a nephew, Bill Hayes of Dowell.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; and eight brothers and sisters.

Visitation is 9 a.m. Friday, Feb. 11, 2011, at the Absher-Nicholson Funeral Home, Carrier Mills. Services will be held 11 a.m. Friday at the funeral home. The Rev. David Betts will officiate. Burial will be in Salem Cemetery.

The family prefers memorials to Antioch Church of Stonefort in lieu of flowers.