Pamela Goldeana Blaxton - Dowd

Pamela Goldeana Blaxton-Dowd passed into the hands of her Lord on March 31, 2024, of complications from glioblastoma brain cancer, while at the Cottingham Hospice House in Seneca, SC. The daughter of Thomas Lloyd Blaxton and Martha Ilene McIntyre Blaxton, she was born July 1, 1947, in Selma, Alabama. Both her father and mother preceded her in death. Pam married Carrol Lee Dowd in 1977 in Twin Falls, ID. and they adopted their newly born daughter, Brenna Deshawn Dowd in 1983. Both preceded her in death. Pam spent many years in Idaho before relocating to South Carolina. Pam had three brothers. Lt. Col. Eldon Clark Blaxton and Theodore Anthony “Chisai” Blaxton, who preceded her in death. Marvin Ernest Blaxton lives in Owasso, OK. She also has many cousins spread across the US. Her father served in the U.S. Army in both World War II and later in Korea. He was recalled to the U.S. Air Force in 1956 and as a young girl Pam spent several years in Japan and Okinawa where her father was deployed. Pam was well-known and respected for her activism in the anoxic brain injury awareness community. After the passing of her beloved daughter, Brenna, in 2011 of complications from anoxic brain injury, she continued to provide counsel to thousands of others as they navigated their own caregiving journeys. She spent thousands of hours gathering stories, putting together packets, visiting families, brain injury rehabilitation centers, and making thousands of phone calls. She traveled 30,000 miles and across 20 states in a motorhome to Washington DC six times to lobby for action and changes to how the healthcare system diagnosed and treated patients with anoxic brain injuries. She was a member of Toxic Discovery Non Profit & was a presenter at several meetings in front of the FDA in Washington, DC. She was an advocate against medical device failures along with her daughter. She was so passionate about her mission that she eventually uprooted her life in Idaho and relocated to South Carolina in 2017, where she felt the elected officials might be more receptive to the changes she was fighting for. In that broad community, Pam will always be remembered by many, many families and caregivers as a pioneer in the fight to have her daughter’s health condition recognized by the healthcare community. She wrote two books - “Condemned to Die. Ask me how. Tell me why” in 2011 and “A Mother’s Afterthoughts” in 2019 that chronicled Brenna’s health challenges and struggles and Pam’s own battles to care for Brenna and advocate for healthcare changes nationwide. She was Founder/Director of Brenna’s Hope Foundation -Love Your Brain in Boise, ID from 2012-24. Pam contributed to the communities in which she lived by volunteering her time and energy to help make people’s lives better. In Twin Falls, Idaho she served from 1990-94 on the City Council. She also was an avid volunteer with hospice and other organizations serving elderly and ill people in Twin Falls. Pam was an active member of Corinth Baptist Church in Seneca, SC, for seven years where she was a Young at Heart member and helped with the Shoes for Haiti project. Locally she served as Secretary of the Golden Corner Rotary Club, as research volunteer for the Military Museum at Patriots Hall in Walhalla, SC, as research volunteer at the Oconee County Habitat for Humanity Resale Store, as an Associate Member of the Lewis G. Watkins Detachment #1131 of the Marine Corps League, and as a member of The Compassionate Friends Chapter of Seneca. While with the Military Museum and later as an associate member of the Marine Corps League, Pam became very passionate about relating stories of the Lewis G. Watkins family. As Lewis was the only Medal of Honor recipient from Oconee County, she believed his life and that of his family should be known by all Oconee County residents, and she set out to make that possible. She designed spotlight exhibits at the Museum featuring the Medal of Honor and Lewis, who was killed in action in Korea, and his older brother Frank, who served in the Army Air Corps in World War II and was a prisoner of war for 15 months in Europe. She visited and stayed in touch with Lewis’ two surviving sisters and religiously maintained the family’s burial site at Wolf Stake Cemetery near West Union, SC. As an active participant in the Marine League’s prominent programs and ceremonies, annually she participated in the following events: March 25 - Annual Medal of Honor Day Memorial Day and Veterans Placed Flags on veterans’ grave sites August 11 - Purple Heart Day, in honor of both Lewis and Frank Watkins October 7th - Lewis G Watkins Honors Day, held on the anniversary of Lewis death in 1952, at the Wolf Stake Cemetery December – Assistant coordinator for Wreaths Across America for four local cemeteries. October-December – Assisting in various roles with the Toys for Tots campaign Perhaps her life’s most significant contribution has been the hundreds of heartfelt friendships she made with others who recognized in her a compassionate and loving person who existed to help anyone in need. In her travels throughout the country Pam made friends with anyone she met, told them her stories, and asked how she might help them. She was incredibly generous with her money and her time. Pam Dowd was a remarkable person whose legacy will be remembered for many, many years. Anyone who was ever touched by Pam will never forget her infectious smile, her hearty laugh, and the twinkle in her eyes. Any remembrance of Pam would be incomplete without mentioning her loyal and loving ”baby,” Mr. Gibbs, her miniature pincher who is the latest in a long line of pets she surrounded herself with. The Blue Ridge Cremation Society is managing arrangements. Pam asked that a remembrance memorial service and repast be held, which will be Sunday, April 7, 2024, at 1:00 PM at Corinth Baptist Church, 530 Old Clemson Hwy, Seneca, SC 29672. In lieu of flowers, please direct any donations in Pam’s memory to the Military Museum at Patriots Hall at 13 Short Street, Walhalla, SC 29691. In lieu of flowers, please direct any donations in Pam’s memory to the Military Museum at Patriots Hall at 13 Short Street, Walhalla, SC 29691.

Pamela Goldeana Blaxton - Dowd

July 1, 1947 - March 31, 2024