LUMBERTON — The late Earl Antone was put on Earth to help others, say his family and friends, and that’s what he did.

The dedication and spirit of the late Antone was fondly recalled Thursday at the grand opening of Sadie’s Landing, Lumberton’s newest apartment complex.

The computer room inside the new clubhouse was dedicated to Antone after federal, state and city officials cut the ribbon on the 60-unit neighborhood. A golden plaque reading “William Earl Antone Sr. Computer Center” was unveiled by his sons, Bob and Bill Antone.

Sadie’s Landing offers 60 apartments for families who earn 60 percent or less of median income. The community was developed by Bill Jenkins of Raleigh and the Antones, both Lumberton residents.

Jenkins said Sadie’s Landing, which is at 2230 McPhail Road, just off Roberts Avenue, was “evidently needed” because less than three months after the first building opened and the first tenant moved in, the complex is already at 100 percent capacity and has a growing waiting list.

“That shows me there’s a heck of a need for this type of housing,” Jenkins told the 40 or so people crowded into the office.

The $5.8 million development was financed in large part by federal and state tax credits awarded by the N.C. Housing Finance Agency. The agency finances the statewide construction of affordable rental apartments using federal and state housing credits, low-interest loans, and tax-exempt bond allocations.

U.S. Rep. Mike McIntyre said a home is “one of the most basic necessities of life,” and a cornerstone of the country’s health. “... This is how you do it — charity does begin at home.”

Speaking to Bob and Bill Antone, McIntyre said, “Thank you all for sharing your lives with us, for sharing Earl with us.”

The elder Antone served on the Housing Finance Agency’s board of directors from 1982 to 1985 and again from 1993 to 1999. He died in May 2008.

Lucius Jones, chairman of the board for the agency, said Earl Antone was a great guy with a good sense of humor who was active up until his death. He said through his work with the agency Antone helped provide safe, warm and affordable housing for people throughout the state.

“He made a big impact on many people’s lives,” Jones said.

Mayor Raymond Pennington said Earl Antone worked hard, played hard and liked to win, “But more importantly, he had a passion for helping people.”

Earl Antone went into the dyeing and finishing business in the 1960s when he partnered with Charlie Edens. They opened Dyfax Inc. across from the Robeson County Library.

In the mid-1970s, the elder Antone started building apartments with his partners, Bill Jenkins and Charlie Grant. They built apartments all across eastern North Carolina. Three sets of apartments were built in Lumberton in the early 1980s: Apartments of Lumberton, Briarwood and Oakwood Manor.

“My father was a very creative man with a keen business mind,” said Bob Antone. “My brother and I always knew that we could depend on him for good advice. He was always there for us when we needed him.

“Dad said many times that he believed that he was placed on this Earth to help people. He proved that in the way he lived from day to day.”

As part of Thursday event, the Housing Finance Agency presented a $5,000 check to the Robeson County Church and Community Center in Earl Antone’s honor.

The Housing Finance Agency is a self-supporting public agency. It has financed 190,000 homes and apartments during the last three decades, including 81,000 homes for first-time home buyers.

To learn more, go to www.nchfa.com or call (919) 877-5700 or (800) 393-0988.