Obituary of Louise Frances Blackwell Hawthorne

Louise Frances Blackwell Hawthorne, age 55 years of Camden, passed away peacefully at home on October 29, 2020. Beloved daughter of the late John and Thessalenuere Blackwell. Devoted mother of Vanessa J. Hawthorne. Cherished stepdaughter of Camilla Blackwell-Smith. Dear godmother of Stuart L. Boardley. Also survived by 3 sisters. Louise was baptized as a Christian at New Mickle Baptist Church in Camden. She graduated from Pennsauken High School in 1981 at age 16 years old and was a member of the class of 1983. Louise loved to sing, play the piano, and write poetry. She also enjoyed crocheting and regularly made blankets for women and children who escaped domestic violence. Louise was a proud United States Army Veteran serving during the Persian Gulf War as the first and only black female nuclear biological chemical weapons specialist. She held the rank of SGT and received many medals and decorations during her time served. Some of those included the Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal and 3 Bronze Stars to name a few. After her time in the Army, Louise was an advocate for female veterans. She helped homeless vets apply for benefits and counseled vets who suffered from PTSD and encouraged them to share their feelings. Having first hand experience, Louise felt that sharing and speaking about their feelings was important to the mental health of veterans. All services are being held privately and at the convenience of the family.