Dobbins Heights celebrates 40 years of strength and unity

DOBBINS HEIGHTS — It’s been four decades since Robert Broady and several other residents of “The North Yard” decided to incorporate their own town.

Broady, the last surviving founder of Dobbins Heights, was the guest of honor Wednesday in a special event to celebrate the town’s 40th anniversary.

Photos from over the years and albums of newspaper clippings from the town’s first decade were on display for attendees to view.

Most of the land in the area just north of the Hamlet city limits was owned by the Rev. Jim Dobbins, according to a historical overview included in the celebration’s program.

The Rev. Earle Franklin — whose name is now memorialized on the main street that runs through town — headed up the North Yard Improvement Association, later renamed the Dobbins Heights Improvement Association.

That group was able to obtain federal grants to help pave the streets and put up street markers. A Ladies Auxiliary Group also helped raise money to put up street lights, the area was able to start a volunteer fire department, and the site of the former Capital Highway School was cleared for a park.

The residents approached the nearby city of Hamlet for annexation, but, according to the pamphlet, the government at the time rejected the idea, “citing the economically depressed nature of the area.”

After that, the residents started the process of forming their own municipality and started calling the area Dobbins Heights, in honor of the landowner.

State Rep. Hugh Lee, of Rockingham, introduced a bill in 1983 to have the town incorporated, which was “narrowly approved” on May 8, 1984. Once incorporated, the town held its first election, with Halbert Jackson as mayor and Broady joining Paul McLendon, B.F. Diggs and Channie McManus on the town council.

Jackson was succeeded by: Woodrow Davis (1988-1991); McManus (1991); William Ward (1991-2007); Antonio Blue (2007-present).

Jackson’s wife, Gracie, joined the council in 1987 and served until 2015, when she, Broady and McManus were honored with the Order of the Long Leaf Pine.

Gracie Jackson, who was also an educator, passed away in March 2023.

“She’s no longer with us, but she would be smiling from ear to ear on this day,” said Halena Brown, daughter of the Jacksons, said about her mother. “And she would be here and would be so thrilled to see us come together celebrating and looking at the history of what many have worked so hard for.”

The town has grown over the past 40 years, making improvements to the park and building a new community center in 2015.

Tyre Holloway was 5 years old when the town where he now serves as clerk and mayor pro tem was founded.

“To be a steward of something that’s not too much older than me is a charge that I don’t take lightly,” Holloway said. “I take it with the utmost seriousness, because I have family here, I have friends here, we have an extended family here.”

Holloway was first elected to the board in 2013 and has been mayor pro tem since 2015. Last year, he was sworn in as the town’s fourth clerk.

Holloway said Broady and the other founders were “critical in getting us where we are today.”

When asked to say a few words, Broady offered a short prayer, thanking God for the blessings on the town.

Councilwoman Angeline David, who has served on the board since being elected in 2006, recognized the other guests in attendance, including family members of past municipal leaders, Richmond County Sheriff Mark Gulledge, Ellerbe Mayor Brenda Capel, and representatives from Hamlet: current Mayor Amy Guinn; former mayor and current Councilwoman Abbie Covington; City Manager Matthew Christian; and Director of Community Engagement Mechelle Preslar.

Holloway then called up Mary Ann McManus, daughter of Channie McManus, to lead the crowd in singing the town’s song, “Dobbins Heights is Moving On” — written the late council member and mayor to the tune of “The Battle Hymn of the Republic.”

During his closing remarks, Blue recalled Broady’s goal of having apartments built in the town.

“Nobody could see that vision,” Blue said, but added that the Rockingham Housing Authority was granted $2.6 million last year for such a project. “It took 40 years, but they’re coming.”

Blue also spoke about all the improvements that have been made to the community since he grew up, including a recent grant from the state to finish up a sewer project.

The mayor admitted he never wanted the position, but said it “has been a labor of love.”

Having great relationships with the county’s other municipalities, Blue continued, is “what it’s going to take for us to continue moving forward.

“It ain’t about them, it ain’t about me — it’s about us … all of us. We’re all in this together.”