Joseph Blackman

Benson, NC:  Mr. Joseph Everton Blackman, age 79, of 7625 NC Hwy 50 South died Thursday, August 1, 2013, at his residence after a brief illness.  A Memorial Service will be 11:00AM Monday, August 5, 2013, at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Newton Grove.  Father Rafael Leon will officiate.     Mr. Blackman was born January 12, 1934, in Cumberland County to the late Noah and Luretha Godwin Blackman.  He was also preceded in death by a daughter, Amy Blackman.  He graduated from Meadow School in 1952.  While there, he earned his Eagle Scout Award and was selected to attend the National 4H Congress in Chicago.  Mr. Blackman attended the University of Notre Dame and received a BS in Science in 1956.  After college, he married Eleanore Yatsko of Ohio and settled in Durham, NC.  He enjoyed a successful printing career with Liggett & Myers and International Paper until his retirement in 1996.     In 2002, Joe returned to his hometown of Meadow where he was active in Habitat for Humanity, Knights of Columbus, and was a member of Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church.  He enjoyed golfing, gardening, and the annual family reunion to Ocean Isle Beach.     Surviving are wife of 55 years, Eleanore Y. Blackman; daughters, Allyson Hoyng and husband, Jim, of High Point, Andrea Perino and husband, Angelo, of Lake Forest, IL, and Annette Harlow and husband, Ron, of Marietta, GA; sister, Mary Elizabeth Moore of Durham; 13 grandchildren; and 3 great grandchildren.     The family will receive friends at the home Sunday, August 4, 2013, from 2:00PM to 4:00PM.     In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Johnston County Habitat for Humanity, P. O. Box 2057, Smithfield, NC  27577 or www.habitatjohnston.org.