It Is with heavy hearts, but in a spirit of peace, that we announce the passing of Brian Joseph Blocker.

On April 18, 2024, a sundrenched day, with red cardinals flying around the garden outside of his room, our 50-year-old beloved, son, brother, uncle, cousin, and friend, peacefully departed this earthly life and stepped into God's eternal light. Brian, was born on December 17th, 1973, to John and Ethel Jean Blocker, at Columbia Hospital for Women in Washington, D.C.

Born a preemie, Brian started his life as a fighter. He quickly grew into a typical hyperactive boy who had a pension for hurting himself. Whether falling off his bike, chipping a tooth or scraping his knee while riding with John Jr, and cousin Vincent, or running through a glass screen door while playing superman with John Jr, requiring sixteen stitches on his leg, Brian was quite accident prone. This, along with his gentle playful nature, elicited a kind of overprotectiveness from his family. He grew up surrounded by cousins from both sides of his family, usually while being babysat by his dad's mother, Wilhemina Blocker, or his Aunt Mary Wiley, from his mother's side.  The cousins (Kimberly, Indeara, Vincent, Shirleta, Stefanye, Rozalyn, Nie Nie, Tricia and brother, John Jr.) were always together at either babysitter's house, and eventually, at the same elementary school for a brief time.  These cousins grew up as close as siblings, which sealed a special place in their hearts, especially for Brian who was one of the youngest.

After the separation of John Sr. and Ethel Jean, his father went on a spiritual journey taking John Jr. and Brian along with him, visiting various churches of differing denominations until they were led to Rhema Christian Center, where John Jr. and Brian received Jesus Christ as their personal Lord & Savior.  At Rhema Brian sang in the youth choir under the direction of Frank and Michelle Johnson. Rhema was both fun and educational, a place where Brian developed some great friendships, and an excellent spiritual foundation of Word and Worship through their many bible studies, youth meetings, and choir fellowships. During this time both parents remarried; Ethel Jean married Charles Lewis, and John Sr. met and married Dorcas Tinch, whose 5-year-old daughter, Nomoya Tinch accompanied her. Initially blending the families was awkward but in time Brian and John accepted and embraced their new roles as big brothers. Within a year, John & Dorcas had a son, David T. Blocker, making John and Brian big brothers again.  During these years Brian would split time between his dad's house in DC, and his mother's and Chuck's house in Laurel. It was there, in Laurel, that Brian made lifelong friends, Kevin & Sean Peterson, Jermaine, and Terrell McLaughlin, amongst others, who to this day call him Brother, and have many beautiful stories of their adventures with him.

Upon graduating from Coolidge High School, in 1991, Brian, with the assistance of Chuck his stepfather, who worked at the then Government Printing Office, got a temporary job there himself, working in the warehouse.  He did so well there that they created a full-time permanent position for him as a material handler in the GPO printing plant, responsible for driving a forklift, packaging, and shipping passports to the Department of State, and doing whatever was called for within the office. Here again he was known as an all-around "good dude" and a "gentle spirit." He was described by one of his friends as the one who had "polo shirts in his closet, instead of skeletons," because he was such a good clean dude who did not bother anyone. Brian made many friends at GPO, too many to name, but one, Gail Sebron, became one of Brian's best friends. Gail shared that Brian was her brother for life, and that he always went above and beyond to be a friend for her and her husband John and that he left a lifelong impact on her, for which she would always be grateful. Brian would go on to make numerous friends at GPO and would express that he loved working there because of the great people he worked with. He was described by his supervisor, Christopher Evans as "always pleasant, hardworking, dependable, and an all-around great guy who will be missed."

Brian was diagnosed with Stage 3 testicular cancer in March 2022, at the age of forty-eight, in the same week his brother moved him into his house and accepted the challenge of being his caretaker.  Brian's cancer had metastasized into his lungs, liver, abdomen, and brain, never complaining, Brian graciously and peacefully battled, always claiming his victory. During this time Brian rededicated his life to the Lord, and at every opportunity used his battle to share his faith with family, friends, and coworkers. Brian firmly expected and believed that he would beat what took his younger sister from him. He fought through multiple chemotherapy treatments, two radiation treatments to the brain, and two craniotomy surgeries, while remaining positive in his confessions and conversations until the very end.

Brian, through all this remained the humble, gentle spirit that everyone acknowledges he was. Whether from his childhood friends in Laurel, and at Rhema, the Blocker and Higdon families, his many cousins, his coworkers, and many others, the consensus is that he was a gentle spirit who would go the extra mile for others, and that he would be truly be missed!

Brian Blocker leaves to celebrate his life: His parents, John C. Blocker Sr., Ethel Jean Lewis, Dorcas Blocker, Charles Lewis, his brothers, John C. Blocker Jr., David Blocker (Kristina), stepsister, Adrian Cross, brother-in-law Aundre Malcolm, and a host of cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Saturday, May 4, 2024

Visitation  - 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

Celebration of Life  at 11:00 a.m.

Not About Me Ministries

3106 Branch Avenue

Temple Hills, MD 20748

Interment: Fort Lincoln Cemetery

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