June 21, 1938 ~ March 26, 2025 (age 86)
James Nathan Blackstock, 86, of West Point, GA, passed away on March 26, 2025, at Piedmont Hospital, Columbus, GA, following a courageous battle with diabetes.
Big Nate, as he was affectionately called, the eldest of four children, was born on June 21, 1938, to James Lewis and Mary Young Blackstock in Langdale, Ala. Nathan was raised in Langdale and attended Valley High School where he was a prolific snare drummer in the Valley High Ram band. Upon graduating from high school in 1956, he studied business management at the University of Alabama. Nathan served in the Alabama National Guard and was a member of the Valley Jaycees and the Kiwanis Club.
Nathan started his career as a painter in the family business in the late 1950s, painting many homes throughout the Valley area. He later transitioned to the retail field, beginning with Rhodes Furniture Company, where he logged thousands of miles as a route salesman, kick-starting a 50-year career in retail sales. He was the manager of the WestPoint Pepperell Mill Store’s carpet division for many years. In 1982, he became the general manager of the Mill Store in LaGrange, Ga., and in 1992, took over operations for a brief stint at The Mill Store in Pensacola, Fla. Nathan returned to the Valley where he became the Manager of Retail Sales for Columbus Mills. After several years in Columbus, Ga., he finished his career as a salesman with Kemps Carpets in LaGrange, Ga.
After retirement, Nathan found joy in gardening and tending to his beloved azaleas and flowers. He took much pride in those brilliant blooms and was pleasantly surprised to be featured on the front page of the Valley Times-News. Nathan’s love of flowers extends to the numerous landscape paintings he acquired while roaming the aisles of Timeless Antiques. He collected a plethora of paintings, furniture, knick-knacks, and his beloved elephants, the prominent mascot of the Crimson Tide. Nathan enjoyed watching Fox News, reading, and listening to a variety of music, especially Neil Diamond, Bob Segar, and Yanni. He was an avid fan of the Alabama Crimson Tide and has left behind an extensive memorabilia collection.
Nathan’s legacy is one of hard work, dedication, integrity, resilience, and love. He took immense pride in his work ethic and was a mentor to many young employees under his care. His passing has left a void in the hearts of his family, friends, and many more whose lives were touched by him.
For all of Nathan’s accomplishments in life, there is one that is more important than all the others. Nathan grew up in a Christian home, but it was late in life before he accepted the salvation and eternal security offered by Jesus Christ. Before his death, Nathan acknowledged that he had not always lived a life that reflected his belief in Jesus Christ. But rest assured that he did confess, and he knew that Jesus forgives all. He knew that his soul would be in the presence of Jesus when his time on this earth was done. The greatest thing a family can hold onto is that their loved one is in heaven, in the presence of Jesus – forever!
Nathan was predeceased by his wife of 49 years, Barbara Moore Blackstock of West Point, Ga.; his mother and father; his sister, Lynn Johnson (James); and his nephews, Michael Johnson of Valley, Ala., and Ryan Anthony (Tony) Briggs of Cincinnati, Ohio.
He is survived by his daughter, Natalie B. Belcher (Mike) of LaGrange, Ga., Matthew Blackstock (Angie) of Columbus, Ga., his brother, Dean Blackstock (Marsha), and his sister, Leah B. Gray, (Daryl) all of Valley, Ala., his sister-in-law, Sondra Moore Briggs (Jim), of Cincinnati, Ohio, his grandson, Nathan “Gabe” Smith (Christian) of West Point, Ga., granddaughters, Gia Blackstock and Ivy Blackstock of Columbus, Ga., great-granddaughter, Marlowe Blackstock, also of Columbus, Ga., and life-long best friend, Tommy Weathers of Charlotte, NC.
A celebration of life service will be held at Journey Church of Valley, 325 W. F. Burns Drive, Valley, Ala., on Friday, April 4th, 2025, at 2:00 PM (EDT). The Reverend Steve York will officiate. Nathan’s family will receive friends Friday afternoon from 1:00 PM (EDT) until the service hour at the church.
Please visit Nathan’s Memorial Tribute page at www.johnsonbrownservicefh.com to leave a kind word for his family, to share a memory of Nathan, or to light a Remembrance Candle in his memory.
Johnson Brown-Service Funeral Home of Valley is directing.
