First black member of council dies at 78
By Staff Reports
Published in News on January 8, 2010 1:46 PM
Earl Whitted Jr., the first black member of the Goldsboro City Council, died Tuesday at Wayne Memorial Hospital.
Whitted, 78, was first elected to the City Council in 1964 and served several terms in office, the last ending in 1987.
An attorney, Whitted was found guilty in the 1980s of embezzling funds from clients. He was disbarred and served time for his mideeds. But he was remembered this week by those who knew him as an astute politician.
"In my opinion, Earl was a dedicated councilman," said Howard "Buddy" Shaw, who served on the council with Whitted. "He really looked after the people of Goldsboro. If something needed to be done, he got it done."
Whitted, a native of Wayne County, was the son of the late Earl Whitted Sr. and Mable Rue Whitted. He was also preceded in death by his wife, Ruby Virginia Weaver Whitted.
All three of his children are lawyers: D. Lynn Whitted of Goldsboro, Stephen Earl Whitted of Atlanta and Kenneth F. Whitted of Alexandria, Va.
A funeral services will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. at First African Baptist Church. Burial will be in Elmwood Cemetery.