Elderess Ethel Downs

Elderess Ethel Mae Blackful-Downs was born July 16, 1934 in Charleston, Missouri. She was raised by her parents, Senior Mother Cora Lee Blackful and Mr. Leroy Blackful Sr. Elderess Ethel Downs was the second of 10 children born to this year. Elderess Ethel met and married William Downs in Benton Harbor, Michigan on October 7, 1958. The family relocated to Chicago Heights, Illinois in February of 1962. God blessed them with seven children. After rearing her children, Elderess Ethel Downs attended Governors State University where she obtained her Bachelor and Masters of Science Degree in Special Education. She held various educational positions during her career. She was employed by Ford Heights School District 169 as a Teacher's Aide for over 10 years later became a Special Education Teacher for Ford Heights and Chicago Heights School District 170. She retired from Chicago Heights School District 170 in 2004. Elderess Ethel Downs love the Lord and accepted Christ and an early age. She joined The Supreme Council of the House of Jacob on June 6, 1963 and served for over 53 years. She labored in the missionary field which took her into the states of Illinois, Kentucky, Ohio, Minnesota and Nebraska. She served her church in many capacities the throughout the years becoming an ordained minister, the tithes secretary, the president of the Daughters of God Organization, Sunday School and Bible School Teacher and the president of the Senior Saints Organization. Elderess Ethel Downs was blessed with the talent of singing. She sang on various programs and was a member of the Hallelujah Singers of Chicago, Illinois. There were many songs that she loved to sing....How Much I Owe, I'll Go Through Lord Jesus, Victory is Mine, The Lord Will Make A Way Somehow, His Eye Is On The Sparrow, and Jesus Promised Me A Home were her favorites. The Lord blessed her to write a song "Talking About A Man" which she sang from her heart. Elderess Ethel Downs always shared her laughter of love with everyone she came in contact with; she was a funny, comical, kind hearted and no-nonsense kind of person who was always willing to do what she could for the Lord. On December 27, 2016, Elderess Ethel Downs departed this life. She was preceded in death by her husband, William Downs Sr.; her oldest son, Mark Blackful; her brothers, Charles Blackful and Leroy Blackful Jr.; two sisters-in-law, Terry Johnson and Ollie Blackful; her brother-in-law, Albert Echols; and step daughter, Debbie Jean Downs. Elderess Ethel Downs leaves to cherish her memory, six children, Darryl (Monica), Dan, Elderess Elizabeth, LaDonna Boyd, Condon (Yolanda) and Sister Sedona; one step son, William Downs Jr.; four sisters, Buleah Jones, Unice (Frank) Harden, Jacqueline (Bernard) Richardson and Jean Coopwood; three brothers, Jerry (Pearline) Segers, Tyrone Blackful Sr. and Lawrence Blackful Sr.; five sisters-in-law, Eleanor Davis, Cansada Beck, DanEthel (William) Whitfield, Karen Blackful and Rose Blackful; sixteen grandchildren, forty-nine great grandchildren, two play sisters, Mildred Johnson and Luverta Wilson; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, church family and friends.

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Elderess Ethel Downs

July 16, 1934 - December 27, 2016