Home Lifestyle BLACK HISTORY MONTH: Hamlet’s Stuart: ‘I’m a middle school teacher. What’s your...

BLACK HISTORY MONTH: Hamlet’s Stuart: ‘I’m a middle school teacher. What’s your superpower?

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Councilman Maurice Stuart got his start in humble beginnings growing up in Hamlet, North Carolina, as the only child of a coach and civic-minded railroad man father and an independent NAACP-supporting, special needs educator mother who grounded him securely in family, faith and public service.

He always says through them he is genuinely southern and proudly black. When he says he grew up in Hamlet, what he really means is that he grew up all over Hamlet with both of his parents having family everywhere. He was always visiting grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins just as they also visited his home. He had relatives in Dobbins Heights (The North Yard), East Hamlet, South Hamlet, and the street he grew up on, Charlotte Street; again — all over town.

His rearing was multi-generational, from birth until finishing high school, he never lived in a house that had fewer than three generations. Stuart lived in the home with his granny most of his young life. Stuart said it would be impossible for him to overstate the value of that experience and its impact on his perspective and his beliefs.

“My dad was a coach. He would always say, ‘Make sure these boys are coachable.’ He understood that an open mind and a willingness to learn were paramount in development and progression for young people. I often think of that wisdom when I think about my purpose as an educator and a mentor. Education and mentorship are near and dear to my heart. I can’t imagine a time as I developed that I didn’t have a strong adult influence for counsel, guidance, and just friendship.

I myself first remember to always be coachable; I think it is the mark of a good mentor and educator to practice what you teach/preach. It’s even more important that I encourage the cultivation of every young person’s talent, dreams and aspirations. It’s easy for us to see potential and greatness in our youth yet we can often miss or stifle those dreams with our own; I want young people to forge the best path forward for them. Finally, I want young people to fully understand and know the importance of stewardship, taking care of something, the responsibility of managing and planning resources. I want them to know how to care for themselves, their families, their futures and their communities.”

Stuart graduated from Richmond Senior High School in 1989. He is a two-time HBCU (Historically Black College and University) graduate, earning a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from North Carolina A&T State University in Greensboro, and a Master of Business Administration from Winston-Salem State University. After many years of a successful career in corporate America that included working for two black-owned banks (Industrial Bank, Washington, D.C. and Mechanics & Farmers Bank Durham) in various VP roles, Stuart put up his corporate hat to follow his passion and purpose. He has worked as an adjunct professor at Richmond Community College, program manager with the Leak Street after school program, and is now a CTE business teacher at Cordova Middle School.

“It took me forever, but I finally became a superhero,” Stuart says.

He is currently serving on the following: 

  • Hamlet City Council
  • ABC Commission Board North Carolina
  • Lumber River Council of Governments
  • Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc.
  • Hamlet Review Lodge No. 105
  • North Carolina A&T State University Alumni Association
  • Winston-Salem State University Alumni Association
  • Richmond County Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Foundation
  • Johnny Henry Little Foundation
  • St. Peters United Methodist Church

Join us today in celebrating our Stuart for his many continued contributions to our community. 

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Special thanks to Jasmine Hart for the nomination and to Stuart for providing his information!

Meghann Lambeth is executive director of the Richmond County Tourism Development Authority.

(Editor’s Note: Visit Richmond County is highlighting prominent local African Americans each day in February in honor of Black History Month. Previous individuals featured include late Richmond County sheriff James E. Clemmons Jr., late state representative Harrison Ingram Quick, dancer and makeup artist Ciarra Kelley, Ellerbe Mayor Brenda Capel, two-time Super Bowl champion Perry Williams, Bishop Arlester Simpson of Ellerbe, Richmond County School Board member Ronald Tillman, and educator Melvin Ingram. See the Visit Richmond County Facebook page for more on these outstanding individuals.)

(Note No. 2: This story was rearranged from its original version.)



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