Rhonda Blackburn Alvarado

Mrs. Rhonda Blackburn Alvarado, age 53, of 1035 Little Texas Valley Rd., Rome, GA passed away Monday, April 26, 2010 at her residence following a four and a half year illness.

Rhonda was born in Rome, GA on March 31, 1957 a daughter of Mary Alice Beard Blackburn and the late Charles Franklin Blackburn. She had lived all of her life in Floyd County where she was a member of the Antioch Baptist Church and a 1975 graduate of Armuchee High School. Mrs. Alvarado attended North Georgia College where she received her B.S. in Political Science in 1979. She attended Floyd College and received an Associate Degree in nursing in 1996 followed by her B.S. N. at West Georgia in 1999. Mrs. Alvarado has worked for Gordon Hospital in Calhoun for a number of years as a Registered Nurse in the Intensive Care Unit.


Survivors include her husband, Mr. Celestino Alvarado of Rome to whom she was married on March 16, 2004; three step daughters: Jerussa Orantes, Zurisady Alvarado and Sharissa Alvarado all of Calhoun; mother, Mary Beard Blackburn Caldwell, Rome; four sisters: Regina (Gary) Stottlemyer, Charlottesville, VA, Rochelle (Todd) Howard, Cave Spring, Roxie (Kevin) Morris, Rome and Renee Blackburn, Rome; two step granddaughters, four nieces, seven nephews and numerous aunts and uncles also survive.


Funeral services will be held Tuesday, April 27, 2010 at 4:00 p.m. in the Antioch Baptist Church with Rev. Bobby Stephens officiating and Mr. John Early delivering a eulogy. Interment will follow in the Antioch Baptist Church Cemetery with Mr. Sam Buice and Rev. Greg Free in charge of graveside rites.

Pallbearers will include: Travis Smith, Matt Cordle, Mark Cordle, Darinelle Alvarado, Jose Orantes and Aaron Peterson.

The family will receive friends Tuesday afternoon from 2:00 p.m. until the funeral hour at the Antioch Baptist Church, 4526 Big Texas Valley Road, Rome, GA.

Flowers will be accepted or those desiring may make memorial gifts to One To One Fund, c/o Gordon Hospital, P.O. Box 12938 Calhoun, GA 30703 or to the Antioch Baptist Church Building Fund, 4256 Big Texas Valley Rd., N.W. Rome, GA 30165.


The Alvis Miller & Son Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.