Preston Blackwelder

Preston Kyle Blackwelder

Dearing, GA  –           After a hard-fought battle with cancer, Preston Kyle Blackwelder, 20, loving son of Patricia Pennington Blackwelder and Patrick William Blackwelder, entered into his eternal rest Tuesday night, November 19, 2019 at Augusta University. Services to celebrate his life will be held in the James Funeral Home Chapel at 2:00 P.M. Sunday afternoon, November 24, 2019 with Pastor Bryant Neal officiating.  Interment will follow in the Savannah Valley Memorial Gardens in Thomson.

A 2018 graduate of Thomson High School, Preston lived his whole life in Dearing.    People agree that he was a country boy “to the bone” and “one heck of a young man”.  His passion was hunting and fishing with his father and brother.  Preston loved listening to “country rap”—Colt Ford and Big and Rich—and “old country” greats like Waylon Jennings, Charlie Daniels and Alan Jackson.  Even though he was a “truck man”, he was a Dukes of Hazard fan. One of his highlights was meeting the crew of the remake and getting their autographs.  Having an outgoing personality, people gravitated to him and his simple way of thinking. His smile could light up a room and his caring, loving attitude uplifted everyone around him. He always put others’ needs and concerns before his own. Preston began to get sick in 2017 and was diagnosed in February 2018 with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma which was exacerbated by the Epstein-Barr virus.  He worked hard to finish school, graduate with his class and obtain his diploma. Preston fought this battle with a “never give up” attitude, never complaining and always keeping positive thoughts. During the last two weeks especially, he kept his blessings close to his heart and dwelt on precious memories, which included the hunting events sponsored by Hunting For The Cure, a faith-based non-profit organization that shares the great outdoors and nature’s majestic grace with kids fighting cancer; and the Kentucky deer hunt that his friend, Hunter Garnto, took him on.  Preston was so thankful for the love of his parents, family and friends.  He struggled to stay here but answered the call to go to his eternal home where his heavenly body has been made whole with no sickness or limitations.

Preston was preceded in death by his grandfathers, David Pennington and Mack Blackwelder. Other survivors include his siblings, Brittany Suchnick and Corbin Blackwelder; maternal grandmother, Agnes Chalker; paternal grandparents, Betty and Judson Taylor; three nieces; one nephew; and many friends.  Dressed in camo and honoring him as pallbearers will be Steven Bradford, Chuck Bridges, Hunter Garnto, Shayne Perry, Danny Sanders and Tommy Windham.

The family will receive friends at James Funeral Home from 2:00 – 4:00 P.M. Saturday afternoon, November 23, 2019.

In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests that memorial contributions be made to Hunting For The Cure, P.O. Box 9159, Augusta GA 30916 or online at HuntingForTheCure.org/donate.