Douglas Anthony Blackman

Anthony Blackman was born on February 19, 1954 in Pinehurst, North Carolina to Douglas Edgar Blackman and Gaynelle Hudson Blackman. Anthony completed his faithful journey on September 15, 2023 in his community, Cary, NC. Anthony grew up in Sanford, NC in a loving family with one brother, Mike Blackman (Joy) and two “favorite” sisters, Susan Blackman Mathews (Tim) and Cindy Blackman Biggers (Howard). Anthony’s first business was as a paperboy delivering The Sanford Herald. One snowy day he decided to skip one of the steeper streets on his route, figuring no one would know the difference, but, by the time he got home, one of his customers had already called and his Mother was waiting for him. That day he learned you always deliver on your promises. This virtue was the foundation of his business philosophy, which was instilled in him from his Mother. Even at an early age, Anthony was civic minded and always worked for the betterment of his community.

Anthony left Sanford in 1972 to attend his beloved North Carolina State University in Raleigh, North Carolina. At NCSU, Anthony was proud to be a brother in the Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity and developed lifelong friendships that meant so much to him (Never disclosing the secret Phi Kappa Tau hand shake). GO PACK!

After graduating from NCSU, Anthony went into the Goodyear Retail Training for Management program (thinking he would do this until he found a real job, and it would look good on his resume). Anthony managed several stores in the Raleigh area before transferring to Greensboro, NC with Goodyear.

While living in Greensboro, Anthony met the love of his life, Beth Hutchison. Anthony and Beth were married on November 05, 1983. They moved back to Raleigh and eventually founded Atlantic Avenue Tire & Service in 1989. Anthony cashed in his 401K of $20,000 to start the business. After 10 years of hard work, he expanded the business westward to Cary, NC. Over the years, the Atlantic Tire & Service brand grew to five locations in the Triangle area. Anthony thought of his employees as family and always wanted them to succeed in business and life. Atlantic Tire & Service was a two-time winner of the National Tire Dealer of the Year, but Anthony was most honored by the National Tire Dealer Humanitarian Award. Anthony was named Cary Citizen of the Year and received the Cary’s Hometown Spirit Award. The Order of the Long Leaf Pine was presented to Anthony in July of 2021.

Anthony was “Driven to Give” to many local Charities and Organizations. Some of his favorite included: The Salvation Army, Children’s Home Society, The Carying Place, The Miracle League, The MacGregor Rotary Club, The Atlantic Tire Tennis Championship, The Cary Chamber of Commerce and many charitable golf tournaments.

Anthony and Beth were blessed with their greatest joy, a son, Cameron Anthony Blackman (Elizabeth Paul Blackman) and two of the best Grand Children, Hudson Paul Blackman and Harper Thomas Blackman.

He always cherished his Family of which included: Tom and Lindy Hutchison (Father and Mother In-Law) Tom and Tami Hutchison (Brother and Sister In-Law), many nieces and nephews: Michael Blackman, Jr., Carrie Conrad, Paul Blackman, Griffith Hutchison, Henley Lester, Howard Biggers III, Garrett Biggers and Anthony Biggers.

A celebration of life will be held at White Memorial Presbyterian Church, 1704 Oberlin Road, Raleigh North Carolina at 2 pm on Thursday, September 21, 2023. A Visitation/Reception will follow the service.

In lieu of flowers, Memorial contributions may be made to The Salvation Army of Wake County, 1863 Capital Boulevard, Raleigh, North Carolina 27604.

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