Dr James E Blackman Jr

On a cold January Mobile morning in 1956 Bernice and James Blackman welcomed their middle son (“Jimmy duck” to those who knew him as a kid) into the world. With that ever-present gap-toothed grin Jim never met a stranger. Always pushing hard to excel at his beloved Murphy High School both in the classroom and on the ballfield, while ensuring others never got left out. Cradled in the strong arms of a Christian home, Jim loved his Sage Avenue Baptist church family and grew to love and share his faith. Dental school at Alabama was a partnership as at the age of 21 Jim married his beloved Lisa Cazalas. For 47 years they carved out a wonderful life of love and faith together. Jim joined his dad, James,and his uncle Jack in their dental practice. Eventually taking it over, Jim was always committed to the excellent care and gentle concern for his patients; striving to ensure the last place people wanted to spend their morning would be marked with both confidence and a little laughter. Jim didn’t know an idle moment. His family frequently called him a “piddler”. When he wasn’t practicing dentistry, he was a deeply engaged dad with his four children: Eric, Amy, Laura, and Sam. There was always time for singing in the church choir, stealing a base on the Sage Ave. softball team, serving as deacon, elder, and Sunday school teacher. Later in life Jim became the teaching leader of the Mobile Men’s Bible Study Fellowship class. This became most dear to his heart. He spent countless,tireless hours studying God’s word as he prepared to teach and lead men for over 11 years. Jim’s personal and professional life were defined by his personal relationship with Jesus Christ, always striving to love and serve in a manner that exemplified Christ’s love as he encouraged others to follow Jesus. In God’s sovereign plan Jim was taken to heaven on Christmas Day. Jim was preceded in death by his parents, James and Bernice Blackman, and his youngest brother, Robert Blackman. Jim and Lisa have 4 children James Eric (Lindsey) Blackman of Birmingham, Amy (Jeff) Jacobs of Mobile, Laura (Brett) Kittrell of Mobile, and Sam Blackman of Baton Rouge, LA. They have 11 grandchildren Virginia, Charlotte, Sadie, and James Blackman, Lucy, Sam, Jack, and John Martin Jacobs, Evelyn, Joel and Mary Alice Kittrell. He is also survived by his brother, Richard “Dick” (Nancy) Blackman, sister in law and brother in law Amy and Lance Williams, as well as numerous nieces and nephews whom he dearly loved. From the bottom of our hearts, the family would like to thank the tender, loving hands and feet of Jesus, so faithfully displayed through the staff at The Retreat; Ollie Samuels; Chris Springer; Dr. Adam Herring; Dr. John Simmons; Brian Evans; Dr. Bud Rogers; and Dr. Greg Zieman. Each of you provided countless hours of love, comfort, and care to our sweet husband and daddy during a time we will never forget. We are especially grateful to Barbara Fulgham, who will never fully know on this side of eternity how powerfully the Lord used her in our greatest time of need. Services will be held at Christ Fellowship Baptist Church on Friday, January 2, 2025, at 12:00 p.m. There will be a time of visitation from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Bible Study Fellowship or the Women’s Resource Center, two organizations that were especially meaningful to Jim.

Dr James E Blackman Jr

January 15, 1956 - December 25, 2025