Robert Drakeford, the former mayor of Carrboro, died on Monday, according to a report from the town government.

Carrboro shared a release Monday afternoon with the news, with a separate obituary confirming he was 77 years old.

Drakeford, who went by “Bob” to many in the community, was the town’s first and only Black mayor. He was elected in 1977 as part of the progressive and equity-focused Carrboro Coalition before serving two more terms until 1983. Prior to that, Drakeford served as an alderman for the town for two years.

The former mayor’s background was rooted in city and regional planning, having graduated from UNC with a degree in the field. In Monday’s release, current Carrboro Mayor Damon Seils said Drakeford’s advocacy for public transit and cycling helped set the town on its current course.

“Mayor Drakeford brought a planner’s sensibility and a forward-looking vision to a Carrboro that was ripe for both,” Seils said. “Many of his priorities, from expanding public transportation and improving pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure to fostering a welcoming, inclusive community, are at the heart of what we in Carrboro continue to reach for today. I offer sincerest condolences to Mayor Drakeford’s family from the community he made a better place.”

The town government’s release said during Drakeford’s tenure, he also developed “valuable collaborations with other progressive Black mayors in the South.”

“The Town of Carrboro will remember Mayor Drakeford for his service to the community, for his courage and dedication, and for laying the foundation for an inclusive community,” said the release.

 

Photo via the Town of Carrboro.

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