Words by Anna Lee Vaughn | Images by Ryan McGill and Justin Hunter
Blackwell’s Body Shop & Wrecker Service began in 1975 when the late Monroe Blackwell’s high school hobby led him to start his own business.
Monroe took his pastime of painting cars and channeled his talents into building a lifelong career. His wife Kathy recalls, “I spent lots of time helping him. While we were dating, much of our time together was spent sanding, taping, and painting cars.”
The business grew rapidly, with Kathy eventually pursuing a degree in accounting to manage the business full-time, although she had experience in every aspect of the business. Kathy says working on cars mechanically was already a part of her skillset, so the challenge of learning how to restore vehicles after an accident was ‘icing on the cake.’
Since the loss of Monroe in 2021, Kathy has continued to run the business alongside her niece, Charity Mills, her nephew, Timothy Robertson, and Timothy’s wife, Kim. “We are blessed with a wonderful staff that continues to keep Monroe’s principles in doing quality repairs, so we can continue to repair vehicles for all our wonderful customers,” says Kathy.
Blackwell’s specializes in auto collision repair, alignments, glass replacements, and Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) Calibrations. They also offer a 24/7 wrecker service. Come by for all of your collision repair service needs. You might also be able to visit the aviary while you wait, where you will see several of the birds pictured in many of Blackwell’s advertisements and on their tow trucks.
“This is a family business, and we work amazingly well together. I’m so thankful that God has blessed us,” says Kathy. “We all enjoy the tasks before us that keep us able to work. We have an amazing staff both in the office and in the body shop. Most of our technicians have been with us for many years. I would say the family atmosphere here makes our employees more like family to us all.”
For more information, contact Blackwell’s at (205) 384-5070 or info@blackwellbodyshop.com. The office, located at 1600 Highway 69 South, Jasper, AL 35501, is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. WL
