Ms. Sonia B. Blackwood

WATERBURY- With love and cherished memories, the family of Sonia Beverley Blackwood announces her peaceful passing on July 19, 2025, at the age of 72 in Waterbury, Connecticut.

Born in Stettin, Trelawny, Jamaica, Sonia was the beloved daughter of Melhada Price and Hopeton Martin. Affectionately known as “Mother B” and “Mum,” she was the life of every gathering—celebrated for her infectious laugh, warm heart, and joyful spirit.

Raised by her grandmother, “Mama (Watergrass),” Sonia embraced the values of love, resilience, and hard-earned strength. She learned to cook with care, love without limits, and face life’s challenges head-on. Sonia was no stranger to adversity; she was a fighter, determined and resourceful, always finding a way forward. These qualities shaped her into the bold, outspoken woman her family knew and loved.

A devoted mother of four, Sonia made countless sacrifices for her children, often bridging distance with unwavering love and presence. In 1987, she migrated to the Bronx, New York, in pursuit of better opportunities for her family. There, she worked at Modell’s and TJ Maxx before dedicating herself to caregiving—a role that came naturally to her. With a gift for companionship, a deep love for cooking, and an ability to turn any space into home, Sonia brought comfort, strength, and joy to all who knew her.

Sonia was predeceased by her parents and her son, Ainsroy "Ray" Fairclough. She is survived by her daughter, Sandra Fairclough Robinson and her husband, Vaughn Robinson; her sons and daughters-in-law, Kevin Blackwood and his wife, Samantha Daley Blackwood, and Nasheba Blackwood and his wife, Natasha Mayers Blackwood; her brother, Woodrow Commock; several siblings on the Martin side; her aunt, Jessica Wedderburn; ten grandchildren: Sherrie, Crystal, Ray J, Vashae, Lexi, Monae, Apple, Aiden, Elizabeth, and Harmony; and three great-grandchildren: Rayjanique, Grayson, and Kaleo. She also leaves behind many others she lovingly nurtured and raised as her own, along with a host of extended family and lifelong friends.

Sonia’s light lives on in the hearts of all who knew her. She was a force, a matriarch, and a joy to be around—forever remembered, forever loved.

Funeral services for Ms. Blackwood will be held on Wednesday, August 6, 2025 at 1:00 p.m. at Casey’s Eastside Memorial Funeral Home and Cremation Care, 1987 East Main Street, Waterbury. Burial will be held privately at the convenience of the family. Relatives and friends are invited to pay respects and visit with her family on Wednesday from 12:00 noon until the service commences at 1:00 p.m. Loving kindness is always welcome, and it only takes a moment to offer a message of condolence or words of comfort or share a memory of someone important to you with your family and friends. Please visit the funeral home’s tribute page at www.caseyfunerals.com to do so.