Edward C. Dolby

Edward C. Dolby was born in Raleigh, North Carolina on December 29, 1944. He was the second son of the late Norman A. Dolby and Pauline Lane Dolby. He joined his heavenly father on Friday, August 11, 2023.

In preparation for his great mission, Ed graduated from Ligon High School in Raleigh, N.C. and earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Sociology and a minor in Business Administration from Shaw University in Raleigh, N.C. in 1966. Ed was a proud member of Shaw’s Beta Rho Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated (Lifetime Member). Shaw University awarded Ed the honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters in 1997.

From an early age, Ed had a fervent desire to understand and help others. Upon graduation, he joined the Peace Corps. As a member of the Corps class of 1966, Ed excelled as he hurdled rigorous mental and physical examinations where only one in 50 applicants succeeded. Ed was stationed in the Andhra Pradesh province of Southern India where he spent two years building schools and lunchrooms in the Corp’s Applied Nutrition Program. Ed often spoke of the challenges of survival that he witnessed. Through his endeavors in India, he developed a deeper understanding of human values, priorities, self-reliance and the true power of working with people from diverse backgrounds to build stronger communities.

In June of 1968, Ed returned home to his college sweetheart and soulmate, Mary Demetrias Daniel. Four months later, they were united in holy matrimony on October 20,1968. As testament to Ed and Dee's steadfast love for each other, the soulmates wrote to each other daily for two years, amassing over 770 love letters. Their union produced three boys, Edward Nykeywan, Terius, and Jarvone.

Ed joined North Carolina National Bank (NCNB) in 1970 as a credit analyst. Early in his tenure, Ed realized that he and NCNB were a good fit. He often stated that NCNB’s philosophy was compatible with his, as both believed in people and their upward mobility. Ed served in a number of positions, including commercial loan officer, consumer executive, senior loan and credit officer, city executive, region executive and Carolinas Consumer Bank executive. Ed helped NCNB successfully complete several mergers that created Nations Bank and Bank of America.

Ed was trailblazer in the Bank and the community. He was the first African-American to serve as the Charlotte Chamber Chairman (2001). Ed also integrated the City Club and Myers Park Country Club.

Ed’s commitment to the community was resolute. He served as the Chair of Board for the Afro American Cultural Center and spearheaded the fundraising and installment of the Dr. Martin Luther King Statue in Marshall Park in 1980. Ed also served as a board member for the Ridge Corporation, an affiliate of the Greater Charlotte YMCA. Ed also represented Mecklenburg County on North Carolina’s Department of Transportation board. He also served on the board of the Foundation of the Carolinas and was a charter member of the Tarheel Business Forum. In addition, Ed served on the boards of the N.C. Community Colleges Foundation, Carolinas Partnerships and the Washington, D.C., Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial Project Foundation, Inc. He was named to Black Enterprise Magazine's list of Top 50 Blacks in Corporate America in 2000.

Ed retired from Bank of America as the president of North and South Carolina in 2000. He was responsible for Commercial & Consumer Banking, Small Business Banking, Professional & Executive Banking, Treasury Management, and Newcomer and Relocation Banking throughout the Carolinas' franchise. Ed was also the chair of the company's multi-cultural leadership team and a member of the company's commercial and consumer executive team.

After retiring, Ed continued his civic and corporate engagement by serving as a member of the N.C. Commerce Board and the Corporate Board of Directors of Family Dollar.

Notably, Ed was a faithful supporter of his alma mater Shaw University where he served as a trustee. Ed and Dee’s love for Shaw led them to establish an endowment to support the dreams of deserving students.

Ed loved traveling the world. He also enjoyed collecting art and listening to jazz. He was a lifelong Pittsburgh Steeler’s fan and loved following Carolina Basketball. Ed was a running enthusiast and worked out every morning. After retirement, he fell in love with cooking and enjoyed expanding his culinary range to cook meals for Dee. His greatest enjoyment was spending time with his family and reading the word of God. He loved visiting his 101-year-old Mother and his 7 grandchildren. Ed has been a dedicated husband, father, grandfather, brother, brother-in-law, uncle, minister, counselor, citizen, friend. He loved God and sought him daily.