Caroline Elizabeth Blackburn Sikes - SAVANNAH - Caroline Elizabeth Blackburn Sikes, departed this life Monday, April 28, 2008 at Candler Hospital. Elizabeth's life was devoted to her family, her friends, and her faith in her Lord, Jesus Christ. She was born in Savannah on September 17, 1920, the first of six children born to Montford Owen Blackburn, Sr. and Maggie Belle Morgan Blackburn. At age 12 she moved with her family to Industrial City Gardens, now Garden City, where she lived the rest of her life. She was a charter member of Chapel-in-the-Gardens Presbyterian Church. There she served in many capacities, including over 50 years as Sunday school teacher for preschool children and ten years as kindergarten teacher in their Christian School, as well as other roles in the life of the church. Her devotion in caring for the babies of the congregation has made a lasting imprint on multiple generations. She held a life membership in The Georgia Salzburger Society; and had been a member of OES, Garden City, 167; and the Ladies' Society of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen, Southern Lodge No. 446.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Powell Sikes, her parents, and brothers Frederick Dekle Blackburn, Sr. and George Morgan Blackburn. She is survived by two daughters, Claudia Sue S. Christiansen and Kristin S. Everson and their husbands, Douglas G. Christiansen and Larry A. Everson; brother, Montford O. Blackburn, Jr.; two sisters, Maggie Belle (Peggy) B. Pahnke and Leonora B. Shumake Jones, and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Visitation will be held 6:00-8:00 p.m., Wednesday, April 30, 2008 at Fairhaven Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held 1:00 p.m., Thursday, May 1, 2008 at Chapel-in- the-Gardens Presbyterian Church (PCA), in Garden City. Interment: Bonaventure Cemetery in Savannah.

Pallbearers will be Frederick Blackburn, Jr.; Jonathan C. Greene; Rich L. Hawkins; H. Steve Jones; Christopher B. Hicks, and Richard C. Pahnke, Sr. Honorary pallbearers will be: Rodney Denmark, Elbert Freyermuth, Mark Glidewell, Jeff Hartley, Walter Hartley, Tennyson Holder, Bowen Jones, Harvey Jones, Newton Sikes, Shelby Strickland, and J.B. Tuttle.

Memorials may be made to The Georgia Salzburger Society Museum Fund, 2980 Ebenezer Road, Rincon, GA 31326.

Fairhaven Funeral Home & Crematory 2794 U.S. hwy 80 West Garden City, GA 31408 912-964-2862

Savannah Morning News April 30, 2008.

Published in Savannah Morning News on Apr. 30, 2008