Robert McGrady Blackburn (12 September 1919 – 17 March 2002) was an American bishop of the United Methodist Church, elected in 1972.
Robert, Jr. became the fourth generation of the family to enter Ordained Ministry.
On 9 September 1978, Bishop Blackburn married Jewell Haddock of Jacksonville, whom he had known for several years.
degree from the Candler School of Theology, Emory University, Atlanta in 1943.
Altogether, he served as a pastor for twenty-nine years, a tenure interrupted only by his service as a U.S. Army Chaplain during World War II, 1944–46.
During his final year of service (1987–88), under his leadership the Virginia Annual Conference raised $19,400,000 for New Church Development.
This was the largest sum ever raised by an Annual Conference in a one-year campaign to that date.
A funeral service was held 19 March 2002 at 4:00 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church, 225 E. Duval St., Jacksonville, FL 32202.
Bishop Joseph Yeakel of Smithsburg, Maryland, remembered Bishop Blackburn as one of the "unsung heroes of the [United Methodist] Church," a leader who was committed to serving his episcopal area.