Matthew G. Carter

Matthew Gamaliel Carter, the first African-American Mayor and Commissioner of Public Works of a predominantly white New Jersey town, Montclair, died from complications of Alzheimer’s disease on March 14, at the age of 98 years old. His was a true American story of struggle and accomplishment becoming a prominent religious, civil rights and political leader.

Matthew Carter’s success as a public official stemmed from his strong faith in humanity and in Christianity. He met with dignitaries and important people from all over the world, but he most enjoyed being with and assisting regular citizens by advocating and working hard for the development of opportunities for all people. He was a tireless advocate for the common man. He engaged everyone he met with respect and good humor, and many of those he worked closely with became dear loyal friends. He had the reputation for integrity and working tirelessly and selflessly for others. Matt Carter believed overall in man’s connection to his fellow man and that these bonds would ultimately bring meaning to our lives.

One of three children born October 16, 1913, in Danville, Virginia, he lost both parents, Clarence and Henrietta Carter, at a relatively young age. He worked menial jobs to put himself through school and college graduating from Virginia Union University in 1939. From 1941 to 1942 he served as pastor of Zion Baptist Church in Petersburg, Virginia, and during this period, he continued his graduate studies and received his Master of Divinity degree from the School of Theology at Virginia Union University in 1942. He went on to complete additional graduate studies at Columbia University and Union Seminary in New York City.

In his professional career for the next 27 years, he served in executive capacities with the YMCA in Richmond, Virginia and Columbus, Ohio, and with the Southwest Area Council of the National Council of the YMCAs in Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas. His climb up the executive ladder brought him to New York City in 1958 as Associate Director of the “Association Press,” the official publishing house of the National Council of YMCAs. He held this position for eleven years while living in Montclair, New Jersey.

Matthew Carter served from 1964 to 1968 as Commissioner of Public Works and Vice Mayor of Montclair. He immediately faced a water shortage due to a drought throughout northern New Jersey. To deal with the shortage, he appointed a blue ribbon committee to assist him and the other commissioners. As a result of their efforts, two highly productive wells were established and the town overcame the drought. Also during this first term in office as Commissioner of Public Works, he instituted an extensive housing rehabilitation program. Thirteen neighborhood locations that showed signs of deterioration were upgraded under this plan. When he ran for his second term, he again led the ticket by receiving the largest majority vote and became Mayor. During his mayoralty, a local Fair Housing ordinance was adopted. It was designed to guarantee equal access to all available housing for all people regardless of race, religion and national origin. At the end of his mayoralty, he was appointed to support the construction of Montclair’s first two low-to-moderate income housing complexes consisting of 213 housing units. In October 1997, in honor of his service as Commissioner of Public Works and Mayor of Montclair, the housing complexes are now known as the “Matthew G. Carter Apartments.” It was a tumultuous time when he was in office with the Civil Rights and Vietnam War protests in high gear. He was instrumental in preventing riots in neighboring cities and towns from spilling over into Montclair. With a coalition of ministers and town police peace reigned. It was his strong leadership and problem solving abilities that contributed to the progressive and diverse community that Montclair is today.

In 1969, Mr. Carter was invited by the president of then Hoffman La Roche, the Swiss based Pharmaceutical Company, to join his staff. His first task was to organize a Department of Community Affairs and to become its founding Director. During his tenure, the Department grew in size and services, and notably, a corporate Day Care Center was established for the children of La Roche employees, one of the first of its kind in the country.

He received several Honorary Doctorate Degrees and served on many Boards and committees, including as member and chairman of the New Jersey State Commission on Civil Rights. He enjoyed summers in Sag Harbor, Long Island and led the Sag Harbor Hills Association for several years. He also spent winters in Sarasota, Florida after retiring. As a member of the Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity, he served a record breaking twenty-eight years as editor of The Boule Journal, its official publication. He was a brilliant writer and speaker. He loved to read, reading several newspapers a days, and he enjoyed discussing and writing about the current issues.

Matthew Carter married the former Frances Hill of Washington, DC in 1944. They have two daughters Bettye Carter Freeman of Boston, Massachusetts and Nanette Carter of New York City. There are three granddaughters and their husbands, Eva Freeman and Efrem Fisher, Nina and Ronald Hanlon, and Leah and Harold Haskin, and one great grandson, Jonah Freeman Fisher. A Memorial Service is planned for April 28, at 11:00 a.m. at Grace Presbyterian Church, 153 Grove Street, Montclair, New Jersey. In lieu of flowers, donations in Matthew’s memory may be made to the Virginia Union University General Scholarship Fund at Virginia Union University, Office of Institutional Advancement c/o Mrs. Deborah Alston, 1500 North Lombardy Street, Richmond, Virginia 23220.