Sudie Todd Blackburn

Sudie Todd Blackburn entered into the Kingdom of GOD on Friday, October 26, 2018.  Sudie was born in Port Arthur, Texas, on April 21, 1921 (Texas Independence Day) to Clifton Marcus Todd and Marie Berenice Todd (Rivette).  She was one of four siblings.  In 1939, Sudie married Cyrus E. Blackburn in Port Arthur, Texas.  Shortly after their marriage, Cyrus accepted employment as a Radio/Navigator with Pan American Airways.  They relocated several times to Texas, Louisiana, New York, and California.  Brownsville was by far their favorite assignment; and, facing a reassignment to South Africa, Cyrus left Pan American Airways to permanently relocate to Brownsville and founded Blackburn’s Home Electronics in 1949.

Sudie became the first woman elected to the Board of Trustees for the Brownsville Independent School District and served four consecutive terms.  She was widely credited with the passage of the Bond Elections that paved the way for the creation of the New Brownsville High School complex (Hanna) on Price Road, the creation of Pace High School, and ultimately, Porter High School. 

Sudie dedicated most of her free time to serving her community, and she did so in a beautiful way. She was a Charter Member of the Zonta Club of Brownsville and a continuous member of the West Brownsville Garden Club.  Sudie was famous for her floral arrangements that used only palm fronds and palm related greenery. These arrangements were in high demand by numerous churches each year for Palm Sunday services.  Sudie’s floral arrangements adorned Baccalaureate and Graduation events for both the Brownsville Independent School District and Texas Southmost College for over 30 years.  

Sudie’s talents and love for nature continued to play a big role in her life. Sudie was appointed to be the “Keep Brownsville Beautiful†Chairman and worked with city crews to landscape roadways and other city-owned properties for more than ten years.  She did city-wide presentations to both civic organizations and schools on how to plant acorns. These acorns came from her very own Rio Grande Valley Oak tree which she had grown from an acorn herself!  Her mission was to replant native oak trees throughout our city to replace those cut down by the original settlers to the area. These oak trees would provide much needed shade and beauty to the landscape of Brownsville which is still enjoyed today. In addition,

Sudie served on the Beautification Committee of Texas Highways with Lady Bird Johnson and worked diligently to provide mostly native plants to line Texas Highways.

In recent years, Morris Clint, friend, local nursery owner and horticulturist, propagated a special variety of a flower called an Iris Morae and named it the “Sudie B†in honor of Sudie and her dedication to the beautification of her adopted home town, Brownsville. These plants can be seen at various locations throughout the city, especially when the white, delicate flowers are in full bloom. Sudie B’s bloom from April through September, and they do indeed beautify our city.

Sudie is survived by her daughter, Bonnie Holland (David) of Killeen, Texas; son, John (Catherine), of Brownsville, Texas; granddaughter, Amy, of Killeen, Texas; God-Daughter, Elizabeth Dierlam, great nephews, Nelson Todd New of Groves, Texas; Patrick New of Port Neches, Texas;  Niece, Sharon Todd of Victoria; great nephew Steven Todd of Victoria, Texas;  and great niece, Tracy Todd of Austin, Texas; great, great nephew Lando Todd of Groves, Texas.  Sudie is also survived by over 200 cousins in the Port Arthur, Texas and the southern Louisiana region.  Sudie is also survived by Peter Lounsbery, Joe A. Hinojosa, Sandy Allen, Bill and Marion Fletcher, Lloyd and Nancy Johnston, Dean and Vicki Moser, Andrew and Jennifer Moser, Kathy Martin, Julie Eastwood,  and Ann Kurta, who she treasured as family. 

In the last few years of her life, Sudie was provided loving and supportive care by Trisha Morales, Martha Ingles, Elvira Lopez, Maria Ruvalcava, Melinda and Valarie Benavides, Dominga Ramirez, and Alicia, Cindy, & Chris Munoz.    

In keeping with her wishes, Sudie will be cremated by Sunset Memorial Funeral Home and Crematory.  Religious Services will be held Saturday, November 3^rd, at 10:00 AM, at the Central Christian Church, 1100 E. Alton Gloor Blvd. with a reception following the services.

Memorial tributes can be made to the West Brownsville Garden Club, C/0 President, Vicki Moser, 11 Casa Linda, Brownsville, Texas   78521 or other charities of choice.