Ila Hamilton Blackwell 76 of 2900 Harmon Quarters Road Prosperity widow of Melvin L. Blackwell died Saturday October 11 2003 Palmetto Richland Hospital.Mrs. Blackwell was born on September 6 1927 in Gastonia NC a daughter of the late B. Ed and Sally Estelle Benfield Hamilton. She was a retired employee of Newberry Mills and was a member of West End Baptist Church. Mrs. Blackwell is survived by four daughters and sons-in-law Johnnie and Henry Umphlet of Fayetteville NC Neena and Gene Saunders of Prosperity Kathy and Roxy Crawford and Joan and Henry Pennington both of Saluda; one sister Mary Lee Mullins of Gastonia NC; eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Funeral services for Ila Hamilton Blackwell and her husband who died Friday October 10 2003 will be conducted at 3:00 P. M. Sunday at the Whitaker Funeral Home by the Rev. Larry Deeter. Interment will be in Newberry Memorial Gardens. Memorials may be made to West End Baptist Church PO Box 906 Newberry SC 29108. Active pallbearers are Christian Ouzts David Moore John Flynn Thomas Brooks Mike Umphlet Jeff Umphlet Paul Barton and Jacob Black. Messages to the family may be sent via email to notes@whitakerfuneralhome.com. Whitaker Funeral Home 1704 College Street Newberry SC is assisting the family.