Elder Clarrissa M. Blackamore

Elder Clarrissa Blackamore, 62 of St. Joseph, passed away on September 27, 2005 at Lakeland Hospital-St. Joseph, A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Monday, October 3, 2005 at 12:00 PM at Second Baptist Church, 600 Donald Adkins Drive, Benton Harbor. A memorial service will be held on Sunday, October, 2, 2005 at Kerley-Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Road, St. Joseph, at 6:00 PM. Those wishing to share a memory or send a condolence online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. Elder Clarissa Blackamore was born October 8, 1942 in Chicago, IL the first child of Herbert & Ivy (Knox) Cope. In Chicago, she received her formal education and studied at the Chicago Baptist Institute, the Chicago Theological Seminary, and the Moody Bible Institute. Elder Blackamore was licensed to preach in 1972 and ordained in 1975. She began pastoring Greater Ebenezer Spiritual Temple in Benton Harbor 1978, and pastored there for over 25 years. Elder Blackamore is survived by her mother, Ivy Cope: three children?Ivy (Thomas) Springer, John Blackamore, and Joy Blackamore all of College Park, GA. Also surviving are six grandchildren?Candice (Dontanuel) Owens, Thomas Springer, Jr., Tyree Blackamore, Tonnie Blackamore, Terrell Blackamore, Jack Blackamore: brother David (Ada) Johnson of College Park, GA: sister-in-law Rosie Cope: special Goddaughter, Betty Hill: six great-grandchildren including Jeremy Owens. She was preceded in death by her father, Herbert Cope, Sr. : brother Herbert Cope, Jr. and her sister Debora Parkes. She will be sincerely missed by all who knew and loved her.