Mrs. Gladys Motley Blackwell passed peacefully at the Hospice Home of Rockingham County on Monday, June 10, 2019.  Funeral services will be held on Friday, June 14, 2019 at 1:00 p.m. at Elm Grove Baptist Church.  Family visitation will be one half hour prior to the service and public viewing will be held on Thursday, 1:00 - 7:00 p.m.

Gladys was born on November 1, 1933, in Reidsville, North Carolina, to the late Fletcher and Marion Motley.  She was a member of the Elm Grove Baptist Church.  She received formal education as a young child but stayed at home with her parents to help them with the family during her teen and early adult years.

On July 13, 1968, she was united in Holy Matrimony to her eternal love, Irvin Junious Blackwell.  She and Irvin were married for 48 years and reared seven children together at their home at 1734 Amos Street, Reidsville, North Carolina.  Gladys was the family matriarch and was known as a loving, faithful, devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and great, great grandmother. She loved her six boys unconditionally and would give her all to ensure their happiness, security, and safety.

Gladys had unwavering strength, wisdom and intelligence beyond measure.  She was a great teacher and mentor.  She shared her knowledge with anyone who wanted to receive it.  She taught her children the importance of reading, researching and applying knowledge and took great pride in teaching her children life lessons and showing them how to be their very best, all while knowing that she was their support every step of the way.

Gladys loved people and was also a great listener and confidant.  She was admired as a good neighbor and friend.  She had a special ability to know what you were going through, whether you were sad, hurt, hungry, lonely or in need of support.  As a phenomenal caregiver, Gladys would care for you and provide you a safe haven with warmth, compassion, and understanding at the time that you needed it most.

Gladys was an avid traveler and loved to explore and learn new things.  She loved nature and sustainable gardening which she also shared with her children and grandchildren. She sparked the love of travel, most notably, the love of the beaches, fresh seafood and air travel in all of her children and grandchildren.

She was an extraordinary cook and baker.  She was known for her delicious southern caramel cake, old-fashioned chocolate cake, southern coconut cake, pineapple cake, sweet potato pies, peach and apple turnovers, cobblers and homemade banana pudding. She would often bake cakes as special requests and gifts for family, friends and neighbors.

Gladys was known for her detailed cleanliness both at home and on the job.  She worked and cleaned homes in Reidsville, Greensboro and High Point.  Gladys strong working spirit prompted her to start her own Janitorial services business with her husband.  She continued to successfully run this business and maintained their largest client, Bank of America, N.A., up to two years before her husband's death.

She is preceded in death by parents - Fletcher and Marion Motley; baby daughter; sisters -  Margaret Jones, Pearl Harvey and Shirley Powell; brothers - Ophara Motley and Edward Motley; son - William Roger Bass Sr.; and daughter-in-law - Velvet Bass.

She leaves to cherish her memories:  sons - Joseph Bass Sr., of Reidsville, Dennis Bass, of Greensboro, NC,        Michael Bass (Darlene), of Reidsville, NC, Johnny Bass (Mae), of Reidsville NC, and SMSGT (Retired) Tyron I. Blackwell (Dionne), of Tucson, Arizona; grandchildren - Lakisha (Danny) Allen, Tonya (Ike) Courts, Angela and William Roger Bass Jr., Joseph Bass Jr., Jonathan and Christopher Bass, Serena Bass, Ashley Bass, Tevin Bass and Tyler Bass; great-grandchildren - Jame'se Doggett, Jalan Bass, Robert Doggett, Tobias A. Bass, Quiontae J. Bass, QuionDre J. Bass, Darian Bass and Zoey Bass; great-great grandchildren -  Jordyn Barnes and King James Doggett; sister -  Naomi Wilson, of New Jersey; brother-in-law - Larry Blackwell (Betty); sisters-in-law -  Delores Blackwell Jones, of Reidsville, NC, and Mary Blackwell, of Tampa, FL; and a plethora of nieces, nephews, cousins and dear friends.

McLaurin Funeral Home is serving the family.  Condolences may be sent to the family via www.mclaurinfh.com