Ronald Dwain Blackston

Dr. Ronald Dwain Blackston (August 27, 1936 - November 1, 2025)

Atlanta, GA - Dr. Ronald “Dwain” Blackston, 89, of North Druid Hills in Atlanta, passed away peacefully on Saturday, November 1, 2025, at Emory Saint Joseph’s Hospital in Atlanta.

The family will receive friends on Thursday, November 6, at 2:00 P.M. at Trinity Baptist Church, 504 South Oak St., Seneca, SC 29678. The funeral services will also be held at Trinity Baptist Church immediately following the receiving of friends at 3:00 P.M., with the burial to follow at Oconee Memorial Park. Memorial donations may be made to Peachtree Road United Methodist Church in Atlanta, GA, and Trinity Baptist Church in Seneca, SC.

Dwain was born in Seneca, SC, near the Newry Historic District, and was the son of the late Reverend Eddie Devoe and Ruby Dyar Blackston. He lived a beautiful and prosperous life filled with lots of friends and his beloved family members. He was happiest attending any and all Georgia Bulldog football games, as he avidly attended both home and away games, wherever the Dawgs were playing. Dwain’s family and friends speak enthusiastically of his love for a good joke, his love for sharing a great meal with loved ones, and his love for devouring his daily crossword puzzle. A true patron of the arts, Dwain loved attending the Atlanta Opera and the Atlanta Symphony.

Dr. Blackston knew very early that he was destined to become a scholar of science and medicine. He graduated from Seneca Senior High School and was named Valedictorian of his class in 1954. He graduated from Furman University in 1958 and the Medical University of South Carolina in 1962. He completed his residency at Vanderbilt University before heading to serve at Fitzsimons Army Medical Center in Aurora, CO. In 1967, he accepted a position as a faculty member at Emory University School of Medicine, Department of Human Genetics. He retired from Emory University in 2015 as Emeritus faculty. Throughout his medical career, Dwain was the recipient of many honors and awards including being named a member of the Georgia Governor’s Commission on Children and Youth and Chairman of the Georgia Genetics Advisory Board.

Dwain was a long-time member of Peachtree Road United Methodist Church, Atlanta, GA, where he served as trustee. He dearly loved his church and missed it terribly when he became unable to attend services due to illness.

Surviving are his devoted caregiver and dearest friend of twenty-seven years, Michael Ensslin of Atlanta, GA, and his loving brother, Ewing Devoe Blackston of Seneca, SC.

In addition to his parents, Dwain was preceded in death by his brother, James "Pete" Olin Blackston of Springfield, VA, and his sister, Angela Blackston Hamilton of Seneca, SC.

Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting https://www.csscbrown.com/about-us/Seneca

Brown Funerals - Cremation Society of South Carolina in Seneca, SC, formerly known as Brown-Oglesby Funeral Home, is in charge of the arrangements.