North Carolina’s Motley, Leading Black Politician, Insurance Exec, Dies

November 17, 2010

A pioneering black political leader in Charlotte has died.

Long & Son Mortuary Service said Rowe Motley died last Friday at age 84. Motley was the first black commissioner in Mecklenburg County, serving in the 1970s. He was also North Carolina’s first black committeeman to the Democratic National Committee. Motley also served as a state senator.

Motley was born in Prattville, Ala., in 1926 and gradated from North Carolina A&T State University. He formed Motley Realty and Insurance in 1964 along with an exporting company and a research firm that studied radioactive materials.

Topics North Carolina

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