In Memoriam

It is with sadness that we learned of the passing of Anthony Blackman, a member of our TowneBank Cary board.  “Anthony represented the true values of TowneBank. His life was driven by relationships, friendship, and kindness,” said Patsy Johnson, TowneBank Cary president. “His goal was to make life better for everyone else. He was a tremendous asset to TowneBank and our Cary board and will be sorely missed.” 

Known for his determination and heart, Anthony graduated from North Carolina State University and entered the Goodyear Retail Training for Management program. In 1989, he founded Atlantic Avenue Tire & Service in Raleigh, later expanding the business to Cary and eventually opening five locations throughout the Triangle area. 

Anthony’s heart for giving shaped his model for leadership. He supported numerous local charities including the Salvation Army, the Carying Place, the Miracle League, and the MacGregor Rotary Club. He was a multi-year recipient of the Cary Chamber’s Citizen of the Year award, and he received the Town of Cary’s Hometown Spirit Award in 2019. In 2021, Governor Roy Cooper awarded Anthony to The Order of the Long Leaf Pine for exemplary service to the State of North Carolina and his community that is above and beyond the call of duty and which has made a significant impact and strengthened North Carolina.   

The Towne family extends sincere condolences to Anthony’s family including his wife, Beth, son Cameron, daughter-in-law Elizabeth, and grandchildren Hudson and Harper.