Helen Nowoka Blackard Newman answered the final call on Thursday, December 14, 2017.  She went to join family and friends in the presence of God Almighty, receiving at last the final reward of blessed peace and comfort after living a faithful life of Christian service. With a perpetual smile, a kind word and more, her life was a testimony to what is good in the world and to what can be accomplished through faith.

Born on August 18, 1928, she was the only child of John Early and Wanda Lunette King Blackard. She was raised in Crockett and she lived in the Crockett/Rural Retreat area throughout her life. She graduated from Rural Retreat High School in 1945 and she graduated from Marion College in 1947.She was married to Roy Franklin Newman from 1946 until his death in 1963. She was a life-long member of King's Grove United Methodist Church and she was a lifetime member of the King's Grove United Methodist Women. She was also a long time member of the Rural Retreat Music Club.

As a daughter, wife and Mother she enjoyed a full life and a wide range of vocations.  After the loss of her husband, she owned and operated the Plateau Motel for 20 years. She then worked for the U.S. Postal Service as Assistant Postmaster in Crockett. Later she returned to work as a teacher, the work for which she was best suited. She retired from Wythe County Schools in June, 2000. Regardless of her work at the time, she always looked for ways to go the extra mile in order to find ways for the Lord's light to shine through her words and deeds.

Her life brought many blessings as well as challenges and hardships.  She faced each with the joy, determination and strength that only steadfast faith can provide. Her outward appearance never showed the struggle she might be enduring and, whatever the hardship, she trusted God and knew that through him all things would be made right.

Whether it was her warm smile, her comforting words or her generosity she was always looking for a way to help others. By sending a greeting card, making a telephone call, or preparing and delivering a home cooked meal to someone sick or shut in she was always there for others.  Even in her final years, when her life slowed and her discomfort mounted, she continued to greet everyone with a kind word and smile.  She was known to many at Carrington Place in Wytheville as the "Lady in the red hat".

She continues to be with us and watch over us in spirit today. Her exemplary life of love and service will live on through the memories she leaves with those left behind. Surviving are her three sons: John Franklin Newman and wife Terry of Bent Mountain, James Rankin Newman and wife Vivian of Madisonville, Tennessee and Jeffrey King Newman and wife Linda of Crockett. She is also survived by her five grandchildren: Natalie Anne Newman, Sarah Lunette Newman, Rene Annette Newston, Joshua Blackard Newman, and Amanda Jayne Newman. Five great-grandchildren also survive.

Visitation will begin at 1:00 PM on Sunday, December 17, 2017 at King's Grove United Methodist Church in Crockett. The funeral service will follow at 2:00 PM with the Rev. Chapman W. Huff, Jr, and the Rev. Richard Gregory officiating. A private interment in the church cemetery will follow the service.  In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the King's Grove United Methodist Church Cemetery fund c/o Clyde Copenhaver, 2202 Crockett Road, Crockett, Virginia 24323.

Lindsey Funeral Home, Rural Retreat, VA is serving the Newman family.  Online condolences may be sent to the family at:  www.highlandfuneralservice.com