Julie Townsend

September 2, 1958, in Charlotte, Julie Townsend, of Fleetwood, NC, was a beloved daughter, sister, aunt, and friend to many. She died after a brief illness at Novant Presbyterian Hospital in Charlotte on February 5, 2023, at the age of 64, in the same hospital where she was born. Julie's sharp wit, unique personality, and love of life will be sorely missed by her family and friends.

Julie was the owner of Julie E Townsend Real Estate Service in West Jefferson, NC. She began her real estate career in 1984 in Charlotte at Townsend Realty/Merrill-Lynch. Julie earned a BA in Political Science and double-majored in History, and minored in Religion in 1983 from the University of NC at Charlotte. She earned a Master's in English in 1993, with a concentration in writing also from UNCC. Julie had dual careers, in addition to selling residential and commercial real estate, she taught English and Creative Writing at UNCC from 1994-2011, and then at Appalachian State from 2011 until 2015, when she retired from teaching. She was very active in the creative writing community in Ashe County and was a published author. She was editor as well as contributor to "Mountain Memoirs: An Ashe County Anthology" in 2012 and then published an additional collection, with her writing friends, titled "Reflections of the New River" in 2015.

Julie began her love for Ashe County as a child when her parents bought their first mountain place in Fleetwood Falls. It was her dream to come back one day to Ashe County and be a full-time resident. That dream became a reality for her in 2008.

Julie was preceded in death by her father, Gerald Townsend, and is survived by her mother, Sandra Patterson of Charlotte, her brother, John Townsend and his wife, Karen Townsend of Waxhaw, sister, Cindy Boyd and her husband, David Boyd of Piney Creek, NC, half-sister Kristin Townsend of NYC, and nieces, Madison Clarke, Hannah Boyd, Shelby Townsend and nephew, Matthew Townsend, and many cousins, aunts, and uncles.

A Memorial Service will be held Saturday, March 4th at Boone Family Funeral Home located at 2005 Mt Jefferson Road, West Jefferson, NC 28694. The family will receive friends from 1-2 pm with service following at 2 pm.

Julie was very involved in the University Transition Opportunities Program or UTOP, at UNCC, a program to help youth transition to college. Donations in Julie's memory can be made to the UTOP through the following link:

https://utop.charlotte.edu/donate

Also, donations are being accepted in Julie's memory to Shoes for Children of Ashe County. Shoes for Kids c/o Melody Rector 347 Paddy Ave, West Jefferson, NC 28694