County-native went on to make history in Raleigh

The Richmond County Tourism and Development Authority will be honoring prominent black Richmond County-natives for the month of February in honor of Black History Month.

“To whom much is given, much is expected and required.”

This is the motto of the current City Manager of Raleigh, NC, Richmond County native, Marchell Adams-David, who has committed her entire life to public service. Marchell made history for both African Americans and women by becoming the first African American and woman to hold this position for the state’s capital city. Prior to this role, she was appointed as Assistant City Manager in Raleigh in 2014, she was the City Manager for Hamlet for 13 years. During her tenure in Hamlet, the relocation and renovation of the award-winning Hamlet Passenger Depot was one of her crowning achievements in the town, which she helped brand as “the little town that does.”

A 1988 graduate of Richmond Senior High School, Marchell went on to become a two-time graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in public policy analysis with an emphasis in state and local administration and a Masters in Public Administration with a concentration in public management.

In addition to her municipal leadership, she has served as an instructor at Richmond Community College and as an adjunct professor for the UNCP in the political science/ public administration department.

Some of her awards include: Manager of the Year for the Regional Managers Association (2005), NAACP Humanitarian of the Year for the Richmond County Chapter (2014), Unity for the Community Award (2014), The Carolinian Women in Leadership Award (2016), NC Assistant City Manager of the Year Award from the NC City/ County Manager Association (2018) and President’s Award Raleigh-Apex Branch of NAACP (2021).

She is involved in numerous civic and professional affiliations including: Alexander YMCA Board of Directors, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., American Red Cross Board of Directors (Triangle Chapter), The Fountain Fellowship Ministries, Raleigh Chamber of Commerce Leadership Circle, Oak City Cares Advisory Council, Wake County Manager’s Association, Large Cities Executive Forum, ICMA- International City/ County Managers’ Association, Local Government Federal Credit Union Advisory Council, Mayor’s Commission for Compassion, NC Arts Council Board of Directors (former board member), NCCCMA- North Carolina City/ County Managers’ Association, NC Water Pollution Control System Operators Certification Commission- State Board, Project Reach, Richmond County Communities in School (founding member and board chair), UNC MPA Alumni Association (former chair), UNC General Alumni Association (former board member), UNC Board of Visitors, UNC School of Government Foundation Board. Of all of her achievements, she takes the most pride in being the mother to three daughters, Brianna, Kiersten, and Kennedy.

Join us today in celebrating this Richmond County native for her continued history-making accomplishments!