SALISBURY — Both the Salisbury City Council and several residents took the time to speak about what Anthony Smith has meant to the city during his last council meeting on Tuesday.

Smith resigned after the meeting to move back to his native Birmingham, Alabama, in order to pursue career opportunities and be closer to his family.

“We’ve done our fair share of peace marches and demonstrations together, and the moment you got on council, I could have never been prouder because I feel like we had always been in that together even when I was on council. I’m glad you made a decision to do it and it was a huge commitment, so we can never repay you for that. Your mindset that you brought to the city, Anthony, can never be replaced. You are a personal friend and you’ve been a colleague and now we get to share one of our best, brightest stars with another place,” said Mayor Pro Tem Tamara Sheffield.

Smith moved to Salisbury in 2010, and has worked with various organizations, including his church Mission House and the group Rowan Concerned Citizens, on initiatives throughout the city since, “bringing his passion to community building, social justice and equity to the forefront of his service,” said Mayor Karen Alexander, reading the proclamation honoring Smith.

Smith was first elected to the city council in 2021 and was reelected in 2023.

“I think we organized the first flash mob in downtown Salisbury in 2011. We’re out there dancing to Michael Jackson’s ‘They Don’t Care About Us’ in the intersection of Innes and Main streets. I just remember at that time seeing the diversity of this place and seeing the heart that people have for each other in this community. I know we don’t all agree all the time. I know sometimes we fight. I know sometimes there is disagreement within the city from different people, different groups. But there’s still something very special about this city,” said Smith.

Smith said that his reason for returning to Alabama was twofold, both to be closer to his mother and help care for her as well as to take advantage of career opportunities and help prepare his family for his eventual retirement. He said that he still has family in Salisbury, including his grandchildren and so would still return from time to time.

Councilor David Post said that was going to miss Smith greatly, saying that he had been a phenomenal member of council by being pragmatic, forward-thinking and inclusive of all of the citizens of Salisbury.

After the council spoke, both city staff members and members of the public had an opportunity to speak about how much Smith had meant to them, whether it was through his service in the city or in their lives.

“No matter what the issue, whenever I call Council Member Smith and I hear that answer on the phone, usually it’s ‘Jim, what’s up?’ And a lot of times I’m telling him some news that may not be the best news and I’ve always appreciated how he listens, how calm he is and then when I finish, hearing those words of wisdom that are spot on and it’s coming from the heart,” said City Manager Jim Greene Jr.

City Attorney Graham Corriher called Smith one of the most thoughtful council members that he had ever worked with and seen in municipal government, saying that he cared deeply about every single resident in Salisbury and not just one neighborhood or faction of citizens.

City Clerk Connie Snyder relayed a story about her father, who has since died, and said that Smith once stopped everything and spoke to her father and prayed with them in a parking lot when he saw her father struggling.

“That meant a lot and I just want to thank you for that, let you know how much you mean to me and what a difference I think you made in the city,” said Snyder.

Several Salisbury residents spoke about the impact that Smith has made upon them and their organizations. Dr. Roy Dennis, pastor at Gethsemane Missionary Baptist Church, talked about how Smith helped him understand the community when he first moved to the city from Tennessee and said that he was a “friend and a lover of people and the community.” DeeDee Wright thanked Smith on behalf of the West End Community Organization and the West End neighborhood organization. Shirley McLaughlin thanked Smith on behalf of the West End Pride organization.