Harold Darnel Blocker

Harold Darnel Richard Blocker was born on Wednesday, February 28, 1940, in Laurens County, Dublin, GA. He was the fifth of twelve children, and the second son born to Mae Lartha (Mary) and Felix Blocker. He attended Decatur Street Elementary School, then Washington Street Junior High School, and graduated from Oconee High School in Dublin, GA, in 1958. Harold joined the Seventh-day Adventist church at the early age of 14 and worked as a tent master under Pastor Ralph Harriston in the South Atlantic Conference. He gave Bible studies to his childhood sweetheart, Gladys Clay, and her parents, and they were baptized and joined the Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) Church. In 1960, Harold proposed to Gladys, and they were married. They celebrated 65 years of happy marriage in July 2025.

Harold was led by the Holy Spirit into the health ministry. He worked as an orderly (nurse's aide) in Dublin while in high school. Later, he learned about an African American Seventh-day Adventist program at the Riverside Sanitarium and Hospital in Nashville, TN where he could become a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN). Like Abraham in the Bible, he stepped out in faith and moved to Nashville, not knowing anyone. God provided a place for Harold and Gladys to live — a tiny married student’s apartment on the Riverside campus — and he applied to the LPN program. He was accepted, attended, and graduated in 1961. In 1962, their only daughter, Harolyn Donnetta, was born, bringing great joy and happiness to their home. While living on the Riverside Hospital campus, Harold and Gladys met two couples: Alvin and Ruby Bass, and Clayton Sr. and Elizabeth Alves. They became lifelong friends and have remained friends to this day. Harold and Gladys are the godparents of the Bass girls—Veronica and Vernell—and the Alves children—Clayton II and Valerie. While working at Riverside, Harold met a fellow nursing student, Lula Williams Rhyans. Lula has been a lifelong friend of both Harold and Gladys.

Harold worked as an orderly (nurse aide) until he passed his LPN exam. He worked at various hospitals throughout Nashville, including Riverside Hospital, Nashville Memorial Hospital (now Skyline Medical Center), Baptist Hospital (now St. Thomas Mid-town), St. Thomas (now St. Thomas-West), Vanderbilt University Hospital, and the Veterans Administration Hospital. He worked as a nurse in Medical/Surgical, ER, mental health, ICU/CCU, and home health. Later, he became an entrepreneur, running his own business by serving as a private nurse for patients in their homes. At age 61, he retired from Bordeaux Hospital, where he worked in the Alzheimer’s unit. For more than 40 years, Harold held various nursing roles and enjoyed caring for his patients and their families.

Harold also worked for a time as a literature evangelist – going door to door selling Bibles and SDA books. He became a Bible worker and studied with people who were interested in the Bible, resulting in several souls being baptized and joining the SDA Church.

Harold due to health problems and was very restless and didn’t know what to do with himself. His daughter, Harolyn suggested her parents become foster parents, because they had so much love to give to a child. They applied and received a special needs child, Gary, whom they fell in love with and decided to adopt him in their family.

Harold had a passion for reading the Bible and telling people about God’s love. Because of this, in 1976, he and his wife became charter members of the newly organized New Life SDA Church in Nashville so he could help win souls to Christ. Harold was involved in prison ministry, served as a deacon at Riverside SDA Church in Nashville, and later served as an elder for many years at New Life SDA Church until his passing. He also assisted Alvin Bass, his lifelong friend, with the homeless ministry at Hillcrest SDA Church in Nashville, providing meals for the Room in the Inn program.

Another of his passions, besides his family, was cooking. He loved to cook for family and friends, and he and his wife coordinated the hospitality ministry at their church for many years.

Harold loved people, especially young people. He and his wife have adopted many young people over the years as their own children, and they love hearing how God is blessing them even now. Nortickle West Weaver, Stephanie West - Rollins, Lauren Gold, Alfred and Rena Majors, Damon and Kim Hayes, and Anthony Frazier are a few of their adopted children. To Harolyn’s friends, Harold is affectionately known as either “Pop Blocker” or “Daddy Blocker.”

He was very friendly and never met a stranger. He was always meeting new people, mentoring new nursing students and medical students, talking to young people, seniors, strangers—anyone—about God’s love, His grace and mercy, how to find a good wife, his favorite team, the Titans, and food. At doctor visits, he would talk to the doctor’s staff about how he had tried a new recipe, whether it turned out well, where to buy the best meat, a large quantity of greens, or where to get the best cupcakes in Nashville.

Harold leaves to cherish his memory his loving wife of 65 years, Gladys Armethia Blocker; daughter, Harolyn Donnetta Acklin (Flenoill) of Springfield, TN; adopted, son, Gary Williams Blocker, brother, Donald Blocker (Deloris) of Miami, Florida; Marie Holder of Dublin, GA; sisters-in-law: Darlene Blocker of Antioch, TN; Flora Blocker of LaVergne, TN; Thelma Blocker of Newark, NJ; his lifelong friends Ruby Bass of Nashville, TN; Lula Rhyans of Denver, CO; Elizabeth Alves of Birmingham, AL; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations be made to:

F.H. Jenkins Preparatory School Worthy Student Scholarship Fund 814 Youngs Lane Nashville, TN 37207 Phone: 615-227-8992

web: fhjenkins.net/giving

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