Renee Blocker

Our beloved Reneé Blocker passed away surrounded by family on Friday, March 15, 2024, at the age of 60. She was born on August 2, 1963, in Bessemer, Alabama, to Annie Bell Handy and Wilbert Jones. Reneé grew up in the small town of Virginia Mines, where she attended McNeil Elementary School and Hueytown High School. From a young age, Reneé was creative and had a passion for music, particularly admiring Pearl Bailey. In 1984, she courageously moved to Boston, MA, with her two young children, embarking on a journey to build a new life.

Reneé attended Bunker Hill Community College and the University of Massachusetts Boston, where she pursued a career in human services, dedicating herself to helping others. She also worked as a bus driver for the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) and later became a respected community and patient advocate, collaborating with Boston University School of Public Health and Brigham and Women’s Hospital on impactful research studies. 

Reneé was a kind, loving and compassionate person who was known for her fun and vibrant personality. She was resourceful and always knew how to make something out of nothing. Despite facing life's toughest challenges, she never let them diminish the love and joy she brought to those around her. Reneé found strength in her community, particularly the remarkable women she met through Women Inc., who became her lifelines, and she overcame trials and tribulations with grace and resilience.

Reneé was a true girly girl who adored pampering herself, especially when it came to her hair, nails, and mascara, which she wouldn’t be caught without. Her family was her world, and she raised five children, including a bonus son, with unwavering love and determination. Reneé found immense joy in spending time with her partner, children, grandchildren, nieces, friends and her beloved dog, Lexie. She had a love for scary movies, shopping and traveling, with Puerto Rico and Mexico holding special memories, including witnessing two of her children tie the knot. In her spare time, Reneé explored her creative side through doodling, painting, journaling, and delving into herbal oils and holistic medicine. She also had a green thumb and took great pleasure in caring for her numerous plants. 

Reneé will be fondly remembered for her vibrant personality, kindness, and unwavering resilience. She was a beacon of resourcefulness and perseverance, inspiring all who knew her. Her motto was "live life to the fullest," and she truly embodied that spirit.

Reneé was preceded in death by her sisters, Deborah Fluker, Loretta Blocker, Denise Adams, and both of her parents.

She is survived by her partner Anthony Thames; her children, Robert Blocker, Tammy Blocker, Raymond, Jr. and Frances Mitchell, Aaqila and Michael Robinson, Jr., and Siraaj Abdul-nur; her grandchildren Kayah Blocker, Suniyah and Sarahlyn Mitchell, and Nuri Robinson; her brother Charles Blocker; her sister Jeanette Luster; her fur baby Lexie Blocker; and a host of cousins, nieces, and nephews, other relatives and friends. 

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