Vanessa Gail (Johnson) Blakemore

Vanessa Gail Blakemore, 65, of Rock island, formerly of Paducah, Kentucky, transitioned from her earthly life on Monday, April 3, 2023.

Vanessa Gail Johnson was born June 5, 1957 in Paducah, KY; the eleventh child of Luther S. Johnson and O.Z. Sherrill.  Vanessa last worked for the Quad Cities Botanical Gardens, retiring in 2019. Vanessa loved to clean, loved people, dancing and “Charlie Wilson”.

Vanessa was a former member of New Ebenezer Baptist Church, Paducah, Kentucky and a current member of Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church, East Moline where Reverend P. Wonder Harris was her pastor.

She leaves to cherish her memories: two sons, Tony Blakemore of Paducah, and Maurice (Kiarni) Blakemore, of Louisville, KY; her brothers, Percy Johnson, Hildrey “Squirrel” (Gilda) Johnson both of Paduach and Reverend Larry Johnson of Dallas, TX,  her sister, Edna Watson of Rock Island, : six grandchildren, Michael Patterson, Kaitlin Blakemore, Dominique Young, Sadie Blakemore, Jada Blakemore,  Devin Blakemore; five great-grandchildren, Kennedy Copeland, Kameron Winnans, Aiden Young, Alecia Young and Andre Strayhorn Jr.,  several nieces, nephews, cousins and other relatives.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Luther S. Johnson, and O.Z. Sherrill Johnson, her brothers, Willie Joe Johnson, Luther S. Johnson, and James Lester Johnson, her sisters, Mary Elizabeth Luten and Leverda Pierson.

Funeral services are scheduled for Saturday, April 8, 2023 1:00 p.m. at Pettus Rowland Funeral Home with Reverend Larry Johnson of Dallas, TX officiating.  A Celebration of life will be at a later date in the Quad City area. 

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