- Date Of Birth: July 11, 1945
- Date Of Death: November 24, 2021
- State: New York
William Henry Blacknall, 76, a longtime Beacon resident, passed away peacefully on November 24, 2021 at the Sapphire Nursing Center in Newburgh, NY. He was born in Raleigh, NC on July 11, 1945 son of the late Ruth Blacknall, and raised by his late grandparents; Hillard & Marjorie Blacknall.
William attended schools in Vance County, Henderson, NC. After high school he relocated to the Mid-Hudson Valley where he became well known as the son of Cary Hicks and of his many talents as a biker, car racer, softball hitter, and worked and retired from the NYS Dept. of Transportation in Poughkeepsie, NY.
Affectionately known by many as ‘Mr. Duster’ during his car days, or ‘Shotgun’ during his motorcycle days; whichever you knew or ‘Hicks’ to many of his friends, and ‘Bill’ many others. William was noted, acknowledged and inducted in 1999 to the City of Beacon Softball Hall of Fame for Accomplishments and Contributions To The Development, Continuation and Advancement of Fast Pitch Softball. (It was told that he hit the ball so hard and far that it landed in the adjoining little league baseball field.) He was an avid cook, he loved cooking for his family,(especially fried turkeys) friends, and even a stranger in need of food, William had a huge heart for everyone he came in touch with.
William is survived by his beloved wife, Johnnie Mae Blacknall, and his 7-children: son Damon Blacknall at home; daughter Annette(Chris) Hendrickson of Killeen, TX; step-son Jessie (Kathleen) Williams of Beacon, NY; daughter Sherita (Jeff) Williams of Philadelphia, PA; daughter Chantely (John) Skipwith of Henderson, NC; daughter Crystal Morrison of Henderson, NC; son Fry (William) Blacknall, 2nd. And also a host of grandchildren & great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. He was loved by all.
He is also survived by his sisters: Carolyn (Leon) Jarvis of Boston, Ma; Phyllis Hicks of Henderson, NC; Mozelle Hicks of Kittrell, NC; his brothers: Armie Hillard (Lorraine) Hicks of Levittown, PA; Scottie and Clifford Hicks of Kittrell, NC.
Besides being predeceased by his parents Cary and Ruth (Blacknall) Hicks and grandparents, he was predeceased by his brother Louis S. Hicks and by a step-son Jeroy Williams.
