Reverend Eugene F. Black

Mattoon, IL-Reverend Eugene Franklin Black, age 88, of Mattoon, IL, passed away at 5:45 a.m., Wednesday, March 12, 2014, at the Odd-Fellow Rebekah Home.\r\n\r\nThe funeral service celebrating his life will begin at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, March 15, 2014, at Mitchell-Jerdan Funeral Home, 1200 Wabash Avenue, Mattoon, IL 61938. Reverend Kenneth Cox and Reverend Ron Dickinson will officiate. Visitation will be held at the funeral home from 4:00-8:00 p.m., Friday evening, and one hour prior to the service on Saturday. Interment will be in Peaceful Valley Cemetery, Odin, IL. \r\n\r\nBorn March 19, 1925, in Marion County, IL, Eugene was the son of Eugene C. and Nellie L. (Eagan) Black. He married Helen Catherine Plowman on September 9, 1945, in Vernon, IL. Survivors include his loving wife, Helen, of Mattoon, IL; two sons, Phillip Eugene Black of Mattoon, IL, and Paul Emmerson Black and wife Carolyn of Springfield, IL; two brothers, Lyle Black and wife Dorothy of Salem, IL, and Dean Black and wife Elloise of Vandalia, IL; one sister, Marie E. Towler of Patoka, IL; two sisters-in-law, Benita Black of Metropolis, IL, and Marilyn Black of Carbondale, IL; two grandchildren, Jesse Black and wife Michelle of Chatham, IL and Andrew Black and fianc'e Rebecca McCloud of Pontiac, IL; and two great-grandchildren, Brodie Grenko and Carson Grenko, both of Chatham, IL. Mr. Black was preceded in death by his parents and three brothers, Jesse Black, Earl Black, and Frank Black. \r\n \r\nMr. Black served our country with the United States Army during World War II. After earning his Masters of Divinity degree, Eugene served as a minister in the former Southern Illinois Conference (now Illinois Great Rivers Conference) of The United Methodist Church for 49 years, retiring in 1995. He then served another fourteen years as the Minister of Visitation with the First United Methodist Church of Mattoon, IL. He served as trustee of the Beulah Holiness Camp for more than 50 years. In his free time, Eugene enjoyed gardening and spending time with family and friends.\r\n\r\nIn lieu of flowers, memorials in his honor may be made to the Beulah Holiness Camp, in care of David Cole, 1710 Oakshire Road, Marion, IL, 62959. \r\n\r\nPlease visit www.mitchell-jerdan.com or www.facebook.com/mitchelljerdanfuneralhome to light a virtual candle in his honor or share a memory with his family.\r\n

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Reverend Eugene F. Black

March 19, 2025 - March 12, 2014