Graveside funeral services for community pianist and senior citizen entertainer Nonnie Renfroe Blackburn were held November 28, 1997 at Milano Cemetery in Milano with Dr. Gregory Nichols of First Christian Church in Rockdale officiating. Mrs. Blackburn died on a Tuesday in Richards Memorial Hospital after a short illness. She was a Rockdale resident for the past 49 years and was formerly of Milano. She was born to Harris and Nonnie (Thomas) Renfroe. She was a graduate of Rockdale High School and received a master's degree from Southwest Texas State University. She worked as a teacher at Rockdale High School until her retirement in 1982 after 41 years of service. She also taught school in Oak Hill from 1939-40, in North Elm from 1940-41, in Minerva from 1941-42 and in Hall from 1942-43. She attended the Baptist church.

Mrs. Blackburn volunteered approximately 40 hours per week to play music for residents of five nursing homes in Rockdale, Cameron, and Rosebud. She also entertained on a weekly basis at Rockdale Senior Citizens Center and at the Milano Association for Retarded Citizens (MARC) Center in Rockdale. In addition, she accompanied the senior citizens "Kitchen Band" which provides entertainment at nursing homes. During National Music Week, she played for numerous functions in the community. She also was pianist for a number of area churches. She organized a group of volunteers, musicians, known as "Nonnie and Friends" who played one hour of old standards, jazz, blues and country western music at 10 a.m. each Saturday at Manor Oaks Nursing Home. She was preceded in death by her parents and by her sister, Sidney Schaaf, and LaVern Motheral. Rockdale Reporter, November 26, 1997
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