The Blackwood family clan created history on Sunday July 10, 2022 when after a year of planning, fundraising and hard work they unveiled the first phase of a monument in honor of Dick Blackwood and his children; honoring those who have passed, the descendants alive, and the generations to come. 

It all started about two years ago, when a WhatsApp group was created; thereafter, a number of individuals who had the name Blackwood or had a relative who was Blackwood became interested in the group to find out how they were connected to the Blackwood’s family clan. 

One thing was sure, there was a man by the name of Richard Aaron “Dick” Blackwood who had a number of children and when the count was completed a total of twenty-five children (and still counting), both males and females, were identified as his progeny. He had these children with several women although he was married to Mary Blackwood, formerly Reid. 
“Dick” as he was affectionately called, died at the tender age of fifty-seven. Unfortunately, as the grandchildren have learnt, he was experimenting when the test backfired on him, he eventually succumb to his injuries four days later. 
The generations are now joining the puzzle together to identify how they are related. It is considered, that with so many children the clan has been scattered across many countries. A family tree was started by Melcardo Blackwood and others who came up with a vast amount of information on the family clan.  
Pastor Kenrick Stone, a great-grandson of the deceased, delivered the main message to those in attendance. Pastor Stone cited some very important reasons for establishing the monument. He read from Joshua 4: 20 – 23; emphasis was placed on verse twenty-one and focused on the question asked in passage, “What do these stones mean”? Verse twenty-three gave the answers. The answers according to verse twenty-three, is suggesting that the monument was set up to remind us of man.  

Pastor Stone also cited that the Bible spoke about scattering seeds and that is what Dick Blackwood did in his lifetime. He said that Dick has left us a legacy. He noted that the man ploughed the fields, scattered the seeds and watered the garden. He cited that the prophet Isiah in chapter four verse one said that in that day seven women will take hold of one man saying; we will provide our own food, provide our own clothes, only let us be called by your name. He opened that more than seven women came to Dick, probably why he was given the name. There is no doubt that he believed in the Bible where it says: be fruitful and multiply, given a longer time he would replenish the earth all by himself. He was cited by Pastor as a great farmer who ploughed the field, scattered the seeds and watered them. The speaker encouraged the clan to do likewise but in keeping with the Bible principle and in the context of marriage. He said that he was proud to be a great grandson of Dick as if it hadn’t it been for Dick he would not be here.
The Chairman of the program, Mr. Melton Blackwood, cited that on this special occasion it was totally different. Why? Most times when the clan meets it was mainly at a funeral and sooner or later relatives were gone, but this time relatives had the time to interact. 

The monument stands on property generously donated by Charmaine Samuda, a direct descendant of Dick’s daughter Alice. The monument was unveiled by Pauline Samuda, Thelma Blackwood and Rudel Blackwood. It stands on an elevation that could not go unnoticed. The cheers from the crowd indicated that this monument was well established at such a time as this.

The vote of thanks was moved by Mr. Everton Johnson and Dahlia Daley. Everton thanked all the contributors, workers, the planning team, and the organizers and indicated that it was a huge task to have the work done and on time for the unveiling as it was a worthwhile exercise one of which he was proud. Dahlia in giving her thank you remarks indicated that she was under pressure coming up with the finances during the period but was grateful the activity came through and one that she is proud of. It is to be noted that all the funds used to erect this monument was donated specifically for this purpose.
Interspersed between items were memories of grandparents who stood their ground when it came to discipline. Many of the grandchildren commented that if it was not for that kind of discipline, they do not know where they would be today. Hilarious moments were experienced when some of the grandchildren shared their stories. This date will go down in history as one of the finest days of our lives.
Phase 1 Contributors:A special thank you to all donors who made this phase of the monument possible. This first half of the project was completed with the generous donation of cash and kind by the following:

Charmaine SamudaThelma BlackwoodEverton JohnsonDean BlackwoodLurlene Anderson-BlackwoodBernice BlackwoodRudel BlackwoodCarena TinglingDahlia DaleyGeddes BlackwoodOsbourne SmithTroy RigganBeverly LewisWinston George Blackwood Kenneth BlackwoodWillis BlackwoodJanet BlackwoodDonna BlackwoodDaisy DaleyDwight TinglingErrol LyttleMelton BlackwoodAndy PoyserMerlene CoombsRosaline GrahamWinston JohnsonFavia GoodlitJoel Allen