Faye Elizabethe Blackwood 74, of Charlotte, NC, passed away on Sunday, May 10, 2026 at Atrium Health Pineville in Charlotte, NC.

Faye E. Blackwood, affectionately known as “ Sunshine ,” departed this life at the age of 74 on Sunday, May 10, 2026, at Atrium Pineville Hospital, shortly after relocating from Billerica, MA, to Charlotte, NC, to be closer to her daughter and grandchildren.

Sunshine was born on May 15, 1951, in St. Elizabeth, Jamaica, as the second child of Milton and Catherine “Sissy” Blackwood. She was the middle child of three.

In 1968, Sunshine , a distinguished intellectual, graduated from Wolmer's Girls' School in Kingston, Jamaica. She went on to study Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting at the College of Arts, Science and Technology, graduating in 1974.

It was at CAST that she met and married her former spouse in late 1975, and from this union, her only child, Nikkola, was born in the summer of 1978. As a family, they emigrated to the U.S. in 1982. She continued her academic journey, later earning a BSBA degree from Northeastern University in 1990.

Even though Sunshine was mathematically gifted and worked professionally as an accountant, she found deep fulfillment as a lifelong learner. She enjoyed sharing her newfound knowledge, as it allowed her to preserve a meaningful connection to her father, who was an educator. She also had a profound love for music and singing, especially Bob Marley and Peter Tosh. Among her favorite songs to sing were Redemption Song and The Rose , which she performed countless times with heartfelt passion.

Sunshine was a devoted member of Billerica’s First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church, where she often preached and led meditation classes. She had a deep passion for exploring the many interpretations of Psalm 23, a subject that remained especially meaningful to her throughout her life. Trained in Reiki healing, she also faithfully led a meditation group for many years, sharing her compassion, wisdom, and calming spirit with others.

Sunshine was a devoted mother, grandmother, and cherished friend to many. She will always be remembered for her kindness, warm spirit, and unwavering love and generosity toward everyone whose life she touched.

Left to cherish Sunshine's precious memories are her daughter, Nikkola (Frederick) James; grandchildren, Katherine and Eliana; sister Megan “June” Morris; her niece, Marsha; and nephews, Brian and Andrew, along with a host of other relatives and dear friends. She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Brent “Peter” Blackwood.

A memorial celebration honoring Sunshine’s life will be held at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 23, at First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church (On the Common, 7 Concord Rd, Billerica, MA 01821). In place of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made to a charity of your choice, in recognition of Sunshine's avid love of nature.