Adam Ben Blackward, 37, of Boynton Beach, Florida, died suddenly on Thursday, November 19, 2020 near his home. On April 1, 2020, Adam married Marc Endelson in Florida. Adam graduated from Mount Vernon Township High School. He later attended Rend Lake College and Southern Illinois University, majoring in Public Relations. He was in retail sales for many years, working for First Cellular and Alltel Communications in Mount Vernon, and AT&T Cellular Sales and Management at several locations in southern Illinois. After relocating to Florida, Adam was employed as a server at several restaurants in the Palm Beach, Boynton Beach, and Fort Lauderdale areas. His most recent employer was Chez Andrea, where he was honored to serve several dignitaries, such as the Mayor of Montreal and General John Kelly. Adam never met a stranger and always strived to provide the best experience possible, whether it was in retail sales or food service. Adam was on the board of directors for Southern Illinois Next Professionals, was an administrative council board member and a chairman of the Young Professional Membership Development for Cedarhurst Center for the Arts, a member of 13 PRO (Young Professional Networking for Southern Illinois), and a volunteer with Rotary International. Adam loved cooking, participating in the “Men Cooking for CASA” three times. He enjoyed gourmet cooking and was meticulous at food presentation. He loved Florida; the beach was his happy place. His love for dogs was immense. He rescued many dogs through the years.
A Visitation will be held on Sunday, November 29, 2020 from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm at Oakwood Cemetery in Mount Vernon, Illinois. The Graveside Service will begin at 1:00 pm with Reverend Stacy Tate officiating. Interment will follow. Memorials may be made in Adam’s honor to the Jefferson County Animal Shelter. The service will be available to watch on Zoom. Please go to zoom.us/join and enter the code 858 9857 9990 to watch the live stream. Please remember to observe social distancing at this time. We are limited to 10 people in under the tent. Following the CDC and NFDA regulations, we encourage everyone to wear a mask. They will be made available, upon request. Call Newell Funeral Home at 618-246-0100 or visit newellfuneralhome.com for further information.
Adam is survived by his husband, Marc Endelson of Boynton Beach, Florida; mother, Becky Blackward Grothoff of Mount Vernon, Illinois; sister, Vanessa Blackward Shaw and special friend, Steve “J.R.” Jourdan of Mount Vernon, Illinois; niece and nephew, Tanner Shaw and Tori Shaw, all of Mount Vernon, Illinois; uncles, Terry “Smokey” Lowery and wife, Kathy of Mount Vernon, Illinois, David Roach and wife, Sandra of Greensboro, Georgia, Bennie Blackward and wife, Paulena of South Elgin, Illinois, Herman Blackward of Moore, Oklahoma, and Herbert Haws of Spring, Texas; several cousins; special aunt, Debbie Wielt of Kealakekua, Hawaii and special mothers, Donna Fally and Johnna Braswell, all of Mount Vernon, Illinois. Also left to mourn his passing are Marc’s family and many good friends in Florida and New York.
He was born January 17, 1983 in Centralia, Illinois to Jerry and Rebecca “Becky” (Lowery) Blackward. Adam was preceded in death by his father, Jerry L. Blackward; and grandparents, Harold and Ella Mae Lowery and Ben and Josephine Blackward.
