Jacob Gladiest Townsend

Jacob Gladiest Townsend, 79, Ellerbe, NC passed on Wednesday, April 3, 2024.  Funeral will be held at 11:00am on Monday, April 8, 2024 in the Chapel at Nelson Funeral Home, 1021 E. Washington St. Rockingham, NC 28379.  Public Viewing, Sunday, April 7, 2024, 12:00pm until 4:00pm at Nelson Funeral Home. The family will receive friends and visitors at 1213 Greenlake Road, Ellerbe, NC  28338.  Nelson Funeral Service is serving the family.

                                                                                                                                                                                          Obituary   

Jacob Gladiest Townsend was born on April 3, 1945, in Rockingham, North Carolina to

John and Onnie Townsend. He was the eldest of four children.

Raised in Norman, North Carolina, Jacob was a loving son and brother. Throughout his life,

he often reminisced on his childhood growing up with his mother, father, and grandparents.

Jacob loved all three of his siblings: Deloris, Edna, and Henry. Being the oldest, he always

took on the leadership role of the big brother. One of Jacob’s many pleasant memories was

visiting his grandparents’ house during Christmas as a child, where he would enjoy

his beloved grandfather’s homemade breakfast sausage. At an early age, Jacob would begin

to gain an interest in music, especially the guitar. He would later go on to play in the band

known as “The Abrams Soul Twisters” and continue playing the guitar as a recreational

hobby throughout his entire life.

Jacob attended Mineral Springs School as a young child and teenager. After graduating from

Mineral Springs High School in 1963, Jacob would meet the love of his life, Lena Ann Davis

in 1964. Shortly after they met, he was drafted into the military, where he served two years

in the Vietnam War from 1965-1967. He often spoke about writing letters to Lena during

his deployment. Jacob, a celebrated veteran, would travel to Vietnam, Japan, the Phillippines,

and Hawaii while serving in the military. Once he returned home from the war, Jacob

and Lena married in Bennettsville, South Carolina on February 19, 1967. From this union,

Leila M. Townsend, Kecia M. Townsend, and Artemus T. Townsend were born.

In the coming years Jacob would receive his certificate in Architectural Drafting

from Richmond Technical Institute. He then would go on to work in the city of Laurinburg

as an architectural drafter. Attending college motivated him to build his own home for he

and his family. Jacob worked on his housing project in Ellerbe, NC from 1983-1987,

where he and his wife resided until his death. Jacob took immense pride in the house he

built, as it took blood, sweat, and tears to complete the project. He also had a

tremendous green thumb along with his wife, Grandma Lena, as they both took great pride

and pleasure in the gardening of their home.

Jacob would go on to work at Unimin Corporation for 30 years until retirement. During his

tenure there, he became a proud grandfather of two amazing grandsons: Thomas William

Blackwell VII, and Charles Jacob Blackwell, often referring to them as his biggest pride and

joys. Papa, as they so affectionately referred to him as, was a very honest and loving man

who would give the shirt off his back to anyone in need. He was the definition of the Alpha

Male, who led his family through his beliefs. Papa would help Tommy and Charles

with their homework and teach them how to ride bikes and play the guitar. He would also

teach his grandsons about the real world at an early age. In addition to being an amazing grandfather,

he was a beloved uncle, who was known for giving guidance to the younger generation in

his family and community. In his later years, Jacob enjoyed being with his family the most.

Whether it w as going on cross-country road trips with his wife, or spending quality

time with his daughter, son-in-law , grandsons, brothers, sisters, nieces and nephews,

those were the times he was the happiest. Jacob was a true stand-up man who lived by the Ten

Commandments and made sure the younger generations knew their history about African

Americans living in America.

He is preceded in death by John Gladiest Townsend (Father); Onnie Jane Townsend

(Mother); and Artemus T. Townsend (Son). He leaves to mourn: Lena Ann Townsend (Wife);

Leila M. Townsend (Daughter); Kecia M. Blackwell (Daughter); Thomas W. Blackwell, V

(Son-in-law); Thomas W. Blackwell VII (Grandson); Charles Jacob Blackwell (Grandson);

Deloris Townsend (Sister); Edna Stancil (Sister); Henry Townsend (Brother); Mabel

Townsend (Sister-in-law) and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends

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