Etta Dykes (Blackmon) Langley

Etta Dykes (Blackmon) Langley, 83, of Columbus, GA, passed away Saturday, January 10, 2026, at her residence, surrounded by family. A memorial service will be held at 2:30 PM on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, at St. Paul Church of Columbus with Rev. John Fugh, Jr. officiating. The family will receive friends from 1:00 to 2:30 PM at the Church. 

Etta was born August 26, 1942, in Columbus, GA, the daughter of the late Sidney Hayes Dykes, Sr., and Natilu McKenney Dykes. She attended Wynnton Elementary School and Columbus High School. Later, she attended Gulf Park College in Long Beach, Mississippi, where she was a member of the collegiate water ski team. She also attended the University of Georgia. Etta was on the board and an active member of several community organizations, including the Springer Opera House, the National League of Junior Cotillions of Greater Columbus, the Columbus Garden Club, the Junior League of Columbus, and Anne Elizabeth Shepherd Home, as well as various social clubs. Etta was an avid gardener, traveler, and reader. She could often be found tending to her rose garden or on the porch reading a good book. Her favorite pastime was spending time with her family and friends. One of Etta’s true highlights was serving as a foster parent to thirteen babies. In her earlier years, Etta was also a licensed private pilot. 

Other than her parents, Etta was preceded in death by her siblings, Natilu Averett and Sid Dykes, Jr., her husband, William D. Langley, and her former husband and father of her children, Joe Biggers Blackmon. 

Survivors include her children, Bardie Brady (Rem), Joe Blackmon, Jr., Dykes Blackmon (Meghan); grandchildren, McKenney Spence (Matt), Rem Brady (Amy), Lawson Brady, Bright Blackmon, Bo Blackmon, Loulie Blackmon, great grandchildren, Brady Spence, Cannon Spence, Bo Brady, numerous nieces, nephews, and other family. She also leaves behind Bill’s children, Leigh Davis (Rece), and Bob Maughon (Dianne), and his grandchildren, Christopher Davis, Elizabeth Davis Poulter (Nate), Andrew Maughon, and Lauren Maughon.

 In lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent to Columbus Hospice of Georgia and Alabama at https://www.columbushospice.com/.