Kelly Alexander, Sr. Family papers

Kelly Miller Alexander was born in Charlotte, N.C. on August 18, 1915, the youngest of four sons of Zechariah and Louise B. McCullough Alexander. He attended Charlotte public schools. At Second Ward High School, Alexander played half-back on the football team and earned the nickname "Ship-wreck Kelly." After studying at the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama, he graduated from the Renouard College of Embalming in New York City. He succeeded his father as president of Alexander Funeral Home, Inc. and Alexander Mutual Burial Association. Like his father, Alexander became identified in community affairs early in life and selected the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People as the vehicle by which he would become involved in the fledgling civil rights movement. He reactivated the dormant Charlotte Branch, NAACP, in 1940; and in 1948, he was elected president of the North Carolina State Conference of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People Branches, a post he held until October, 1984. Under his leadership, the N.C. Conference became the largest state conference in the country with over 120 branches and 30,000 members. In 1950, Alexander was elected to the National NAACP Board of Directors and became a Life Member in 1954. In 1976, he was elected vice chair of the National Board. In June, 1983, Alexander became acting chair, then was elected chair in January, 1984. Alexander twice ran unsuccessfully for the Charlotte City Council in the 1950s. In 1965, his home, along with those of his brother Fred, lawyer Julius Chambers, and activist Reginald A. Hawkins were bombed. No suspects were apprehended, nor did any group ever accept responsibility for the terrorist acts. Alexander married Margaret Gilreece Alexander on April 21, 1946. They had two children: Kelly M. Alexander Jr. [who succeeded his father as president of the N.C. Conference NAACP] and Alfred L. Alexander [who succeeded his father as president of Alexander Funeral Home.] Kelly Alexander, Sr. died on April 2, 1985 and was buried in York Memorial Park in Charlotte.

Zechariah Alexander (1877-1954) was a graduate of the normal department of Biddle University (now Johnson C. Smith University), Zechariah served in the Spanish-American War as regimental sergeant major of the 3rd Regiment, North Carolina Volunteers. In 1902 he became Charlotte district manager of the North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance Company, which became one of the largest black-owned businesses in the country. He also established the Alexander Funeral Home from Coles & Smith Undertakers after he purchased the business from the widows of the previous owners, Sidney and Walter Coles, beginning in 1914 and completing acquisition of the company in 1927. Alexander Funeral Home became a center of community and political activity for the Brooklyn neighborhood. Zechariah ran for city council in 1937.