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NAACP rivalry???

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State's NAACP at fork A family dynasty faces a challenge
The News & Observer
May 25, 1996
Author: Ben Stocking; Staff Writer
Estimated printed pages: 4

For nearly half a century, the Alexander name has been virtually synonymous with the NAACP in North Carolina.

Kelly Alexander Sr. helped found the state organization and served as its president for 36 years. At the time of his death in 1984, he was serving as the NAACP's national board chairman. Kelly Alexander Jr. grew up in the organization and has been the state conference president since his father died 12 years ago.
Now, for the first time since 1948, someone with a different name is heading the state organization - at least temporarily. The NAACP'S national board suspended Alexander last weekend pending an audit of the state conference's finances.

His suspension marks a dramatic moment in the 53-year history of the state chapter. And the timing couldn't be more awkward.

It comes as the state conference is preparing to host the NAACP's national convention, which opens July 6 in Charlotte. It also comes as the national organization is trying to regain stability after the firing of its last leader, North Carolina native Ben Chavis, and a bruising election that led to the ouster of national board chairman William Gibson.

The prospect of another round of conflict discourages local chapter heads.

"I'm saddened that here we are getting ready to go into the national convention and this is another sour note about the NAACP," says James White, president of the South-Central Wake branch. "But I've always said the organization is better than any one person. And I've always said that we will survive."

It is unclear whether Alexander's suspension will prove to be a short-term setback or the end of a family dynasty. Officials at the national office declined to discuss Alexander's suspension, other than to say that they are investigating a complaint brought against him by other members of the state conference. They won't say who brought the complaint or when the audit is likely to be completed.

In the meantime, Melvin "Skip" Alston, a Greensboro real estate broker and first vice president of the state conference, is filling in as acting president.

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Politics or arrogance?

Alexander insists that he has fallen victim to the byzantine internal politics of the nation's oldest and largest civil rights organization. His rivals at the state and national level have come together to do him in, he says.

"What you've got is a collection of folks who have axes to grind," Alexander says. "It's politics at its worst. It's really an attempt to lessen my voice as the national convention comes to town, to make me less of a thorn in the side of the powers that be."

Alexander contends that his opponents have seized on a technicality in an effort to undermine him. The pretext for his suspension, he says, was the fact that he used pre-signed checks - checks signed by the former state treasurer - to pay some bills. He says that he made no questionable expenditures and that he told the newly elected treasurer, Z. Ann Hoyle, that he was using the checks. She didn't object, he said.

Alexander blames several state and national NAACP members for his travails, including Hoyle and Skip Alston, the acting president. None would reply to Alexander's charges.

Alston, the only one who would comment at all, expressed admiration for Alexander.

"I've learned a lot from Kelly," he said. "He's dedicated to the NAACP and its principles. He has basically committed his life to this organization. I think he will always play a role in the NAACP one way or another."

But some state conference members say that Alexander shares an unappealing trait with Chavis and Gibson: arrogance.

"Sometimes his tactics are a little high-handed," said White, the South-Central Wake branch president. "Sometimes he seemingly is not in tune with the will of the people."

(snip)

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Alston/Mangum???

Obituaries
Herald-Sun, The (Durham, NC)
April 29, 1997

EXCERPT

MANGUM

Mrs. Nancy Mae Bobbitt Mangum, 86, of 19 Dauphine Place, died Friday, April 25, 1997 at 4:30 a.m. at Duke Hospital. She was born and raised in Granville County.

She is survived by five sons, Willie Alston Jr., James Alston, Travis Mangum, Edward Mangum, William Mangum; and two daughters, Mrs. Gennie V. Pettiford, and Mrs. Glendora Harris Mangum, all of Durham, NC.; one brother, Paul Lyons; six sisters, Pearle Mae Lyons, Roberta Bobbitt and Dorothy Lee Percy, of Durham, NC., Eva Mae Lyons of Long Island, NY., Pourthy Lee Bass, and Marie Pattieway of Creedmoor, NC.; two sons-in-law, Mr. Phil Harris and Mr. Wallace Pettiford, both of Durham, NC.; five daughters-in-law, Mrs. Della Alston, Mrs. Mary Cheek Mangum, and Mrs. Betty Mangum, all of Durham; and S.F.C. Veronica Jean Mangum, of New Jersey, twenty-eight grandchildren, fifteen great-grandchildren, and a host of other relatives and friends.

Funeral services will be conducted on Wednesday at 12 noon at Greater St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church. Rev. Michael Page will be officiating.

Visitation will be Tuesday from 7-8 p.m. at Scarborough and Hargett Funeral Home, and at other times at 19 Dauphine Place. Burial will at Markham Memorials Garden.