Thomas M. Blanchard, Jr.

Mr. Thomas Maxwell Blanchard, Jr., 75, passed away peacefully while surrounded by his family on April 22, 2023. Services will be held at The Church of the Good Shepherd, 2230 Walton Way on Wednesday, April 26, 2023 at 10:30 AM. The Reverend Doctor Bunny Simon Williams, the Reverend Doctor Talmadge Arton Bowden, Jr., and the Reverends Ted Clarkson and Lynn Barnes Prather, and Reverend Doctor Andrew Menger will officiate.

An Augusta native, Tommy was born on March 18, 1948, to the late Thomas Maxwell Blanchard, Sr. and Anne Gordon Harper Blanchard.

He is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 53 years and high school sweetheart, Lynda Poppell Blanchard; their two children, Thomas “Tom” Maxwell Blanchard, III (Jessica) of Augusta, Carey Blanchard Daniel (Drew) of Augusta; six grandchildren, Leigh Anne Blanchard, Thomas Maxwell Blanchard IV, Michael Nations Blanchard, Warren Andrews Daniel, III “Andrew”, Thomas “Baker “Daniel, Anne Harper Daniel; and brother and sister, Mrs. Anne Czura (John) of Grovetown, and James “Jimmy” Blanchard (Jane) of Augusta, Brother-in-laws Douglas deVane Batchelor Jr (Rebecca) and Robert Lewis Poppell “Bobby”, (Katie), step-mother Bebe Blanchard, cousin George Carswell Blanchard III, and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Julie Blanchard Batchelor.

Mr. Blanchard graduated from the Academy of Richmond County in 1966 and the University of Virginia McIntire School of Commerce in 1970. After graduation, he joined his family business Blanchard and Calhoun and led the company as CEO until his death.

Tommy was devoted to serving the Augusta community and lifelong member of The Church of the Good Shepherd. A natural leader, he was past Chairman of the Greater Augusta Chamber of Commerce, the Greater Augusta Board of Realtors, the Mortgage Bankers Association of Georgia, The First Tee of Augusta, and the Board of Trustees of the Episcopal Day School. He was honored to also serve on numerous boards in the community, such as The CSRA Community Foundation, the Trustees of the Academy of Richmond County, and the Augusta University Health Systems Inc., among others. He was a member of the Augusta Assembly, Georgia Profits, the Heritage Club, and Kiwanis Club. Tommy was inducted into the CSRA Business Hall of Fame in 2013. He led his company Blanchard and Calhoun to celebrate its centennial anniversary and also to receive the Georgia Family Business of the Year award in 2019.

Tommy had a deep love for the game of golf, and he especially enjoyed his time as a member of the Augusta National Golf Club as well as Wade Hampton Golf Club and the Augusta Country Club. His voracious love for his family and friends often incorporated his passions of time spent in Edisto Beach and Cashiers, NC. An avid outdoorsman, he enjoyed fishing, hunting, and all things blue water and the Holy Mackerel. Known for his ethics and humility, Tommy was the epitome of a true gentleman and also had a contagious wit and spirit. He loved traveling with his wife and family and spending time with his Schwartz Mortar Klumb lifelong friends, the Holy Mackerel Poker Club, and making his famous Christmas Eve eggnog.

The family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Dr. Bo Sherwood, Dr. Jeremy Wells, Dr. Danny Newman, and Dr. Varsha Kulkarni, as well as Dr. Erkut Borazanci and the team at TGen in Scottsdale, Arizona and Shirley Cody. Pallbearers include: Warren Daniel, Stewart Flanagin, Robert Fortson, Hank Garrett, Neil Holloway, Rob Johnston, Bill Snellings, Sam Ramsey, and Haley Roberts.

The family will receive friends from 4:00-6:00 PM Tuesday at Thomas Poteet & Son Funeral Directors at 214 Davis Road.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to: The CSRA Community Foundation P.O. Box 31358 Augusta, GA 30903 or to Dr. Boraxamci at Honor Health Research and Innovation Institute, 10510 N 92nd Street, Scottsdale, AZ 85258.

A life tribute video for Mr. Blanchard may be viewed by clicking on the following link: https://www.tributeslides.com/tributes/show/4TYNDRMSJSFXW3JN .