Crystal G. Blackburn

Crystal Gale Blackburn

June 7, 1982, born, West Chester, Pennsylvania

April 9, 2017, lost her ferocious battle with addiction and went to eternal peace

Services as follows:

Monday, April 17, 2017

Visitation: 10:00 a.m.

Funeral: 11:00 a.m.

Manheim Brethren in Christ Church

54 N. Penryn Road

Manheim, PA 17545

Interment at Manheim Fairview Cemetery following funeral service.

Family and friends are invited back to the church for fellowship and light lunch immediately following graveside service.

Crystal spent most of her life in Southern, Pennsylvania. She had a heart of gold, a smile that lit up any room and a laugh that forced others to join in her glee. When she shared a story, the listener could easily imagine being part of it! She was so proud that after attending West Grove and Kennett High Schools, she was able to attend Strayer University, majoring in business management. There, she made the Dean’s List for Academic Excellence and set her life on a path to success. Sadly, after suffering a back injury, Crystal was placed on pain medications and, subsequently, fell prey to addiction. After the loss of her daughter, Aaliyah, and several other close family members and friends, depression also took hold. Crystal began the fight for her life. All who knew her knew how hard she fought to be freed from the bondage of addiction and depression. Thankfully, her final weeks were joyous! She was working toward recovery, rebuilding relationships with family members and shared her enthusiasm for the upcoming treatment she had arranged. She remarked, several times, that she could finally see the light at the end of the tunnel!! Her enthusiasm for the future was contagious and we all began to see her vision! While we do not know what transpired in her last hours, we do know that she fought hard to win the battle over addiction and depression. She would want anyone else suffering to do the same. While she is now free from the battle, we are all left knowing that if love could have kept her here, she never would have gone. As she knew, only too well, the support, encouragement and love of others is what brought her so far. In her honor and in keeping with her wishes, if you or someone you know suffers from depression or addiction, please get help and take part in ending the stigma attached to these issues.

Crystal was preceded in death by daughter, Aaliyah Boyer, her brother, James E. Blackburn, III and many other very dear family members and friends. She is survived by children Kayla Lindsey, 16, and Esequiel Navarrete, 10; stepdaughter, Lisbett Navarrete, granddaughter, Yvonie Navarrete; parents, James E. Blackburn, Jr. (Cheri) and Bengie Lindsey (Richard), brothers Anthony and Jason Osborne, stepsiblings, Kenneth Rice, Jr. (Nicole) and Ashleigh Rice (Earl),niece, Eliana Blackburn, nephews Clarence and Brandon Meadows and Erik Zavala (with whom she resided), Richard “Ricky” Lindsey and Ezequiel “Poncho” Navarrete, lifelong friends and fathers to her children, along with a host of beloved family members and very dear friends. Special thanks to Curtis Jennings, Carol Styer and Nicci Snow for their unwavering encouragement, support and love for Crystal.

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