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The Honorable Donnie Hoover, 75, of Charlotte, North Carolina peacefully transitioned to his heavenly home on October 8, 2025, surrounded by family.

Born on November 23, 1949 to the late Arthur Hoover and Geneva Phifer Hoover in Charlotte, North Carolina, Donnie was reared on a farm off of Yorkmont Road by his maternal grandparents, Russell and Cora Cureton Phifer.  Though his grandparents lacked formal education, they taught Donnie all about tending to the crops and the animals while stressing the importance of education and faith in God.

Always a "spirited" young man, Donnie attended Plato Price School where he attempted to learn when he wasn't getting into trouble – both at school and again at home when his grandmother found out.  He continued on to York Road High School where a classmate in his 10th grade English class, Josephine, caught his eye.  When York Road closed before his senior year, he completed high school at West Charlotte Senior High in 1967.  While in school, he played in the band and was also an all-state tackle on the football team.

After dropping his brother, Dr. Eddie Lee Hoover, off at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1962, he set his sights on attending UNC.  He initially aimed to continue his football career there and potentially become a professional football player.  However, after his attempt to walk on the team was fruitless because the coach had already selected the one African-American player he wanted for the year, he decided to change his path.

A child of the Civil Rights era, Donnie started his activism at a young age and continued it throughout his life.  One of his first acts of civil disobedience was around the age of 10.  He rode his bike to a local pharmacy to buy a hot dog and was determined to sit at the whites only counter for once to eat it.  He attempted to do so, but the pharmacist told him that he knew he needed to head outside instead.  Deflated, but not completely deterred, Donnie complied.

At UNC, he was only one of 19 African-American students in his class, and he quickly noticed injustices on campus.  Along with classmates, he founded the Black Student Movement in 1968 and organized a strike to bring attention to the workplace inequities the cafeteria workers experienced.  A dining hall takeover and a few highway patrol officers later, their demands were met.  Their work also resulted in the establishment of the African-American studies program, from which Donnie was one of the first two students to graduate.  He also double majored in political science, graduating in 1971.

Rest assured that Donnie had his fair share of fun at UNC as well.  He was quick to tell you that he promised the Lord a long time ago that if He let him off of the farm, He didn't have to worry about Donnie bothering His land anymore.  So instead of returning home to the farm or to work at his parents' locally renowned restaurant, Hoover's Drive-In, he remained in Chapel Hill during breaks and took extra classes to justify his summers of playing cards and partying with his friends.

Donnie shifted away from his life in the fast lane in the summer of 1970 when he decided to marry that classmate from 10th grade on August 22, 1970.  Donnie and Josephine were able to celebrate 55 years of marriage this year.

After getting married, Donnie finished his senior year of college and decided to go to law school at North Carolina Central University in Durham, NC.  While there, he continued fighting for change.  He was the president of the law students' association and was successful in his mission to get more recruiters to come to the school.

Upon graduation in 1974, he moved to Washington, D.C. and began his career in the Attorney General's Honors Program as a Trial Attorney with the United States Department of Justice.  During his nine years there, he rose to the level of Assistant Branch Director and supervised over 30 trial attorneys.

While in D.C., Donnie and Josephine welcomed two children, Maya and Russell.  Sadly, Russell preceded him in death in 1988 at the age of 7, succumbing to childhood cancer.

In 1983, Donnie returned to Charlotte with his family and entered private practice.  With no regard for child labor laws, he hired his then 7 year old daughter as a receptionist, paying her $1/hour.  Donnie continued advocating for clients for over 24 years before being appointed to the Mecklenburg County District Court bench in 2008.  He served on the District Court for 10 years before being appointed to Superior Court in 2018.  In 2021, Donnie retired after a remarkable legal career spanning 47 years.

While serving as a judge, Donnie continued his advocacy work.  He established a veterans' jail diversion program and worked with Goodwill Industries, the Center for Communities-In-Transition, and the Exodus Foundation to help ex-offenders who appeared before him to find employment.  He also worked extensively on behalf of our youth through the Governor's Gang Task Force, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools' Truancy Court Program, and the Greater Enrichment Program, an after-school enrichment program for disadvantaged children.

Donnie was a member of the Mecklenburg County Bar Association, the John S. Leary Bar Association, and the North Carolina Association of Superior Court Judges.  He was a Life Member of the NAACP, a member and Past Master of Zechariah Alexander, Sr., Lodge No. 833, Prince Hall Affiliate, a Shriner, a member of Charlotte Consistory #35, and a member of the Black Political Caucus of Charlotte-Mecklenburg.

A lifelong member of Steele Creek A.M.E. Zion Church, being of service to his church family was of the utmost importance to him.  He served as a Trustee for many years (Chairman, 2007-2017), and he was instrumental in the construction of the current sanctuary.  He was most at home playing the piano for service, and he led multiple choirs over the years, even serving as the minister of music for a period of time.

In addition to playing piano, Donnie liked to play golf.  What started as a solo, stress-relieving venture turned into an activity that he and Josephine would do together.  He was always tickled when other players would underestimate Josephine's skills and she'd end up beating them.

At his core, Donnie was a family man.  No matter how busy he was, he always made time for them.  He went on countless field trips and served as president of the PTA at East Mecklenburg High School.  He enjoyed making up stories to tell the children in the family, particularly his famous "Chicken Heart" horror stories.  He was always generous with his advice and guidance, and he regularly showed his care through his masterful cooking skills.

Donnie loved Josephine dearly and they were truly best friends.  He readily took on caregiving duties when she was faced with health challenges in recent years, and he made sure that she had everything required to support her changing needs.  He affectionately referred to Maya as his "Favoritest Daughter in the Whole Wide World", but the apple of his eye was his grandson, Nolan.

Best buds from day one, Donnie (aka Papa) and Nolan loved to have any sort of adventure together, particularly if trains were involved.  When Nolan was an infant/toddler, Papa would come home at lunch to feed him and put him down for his nap.  As Nolan got older, Papa would pick him up from school each day, but only after he made sure to prepare Nolan's after school popcorn snack just like he liked it.  After Papa made Nolan dinner, they would play games, watch Bluey, build forts, or do whatever else they could dream up.  Nolan and Papa were two peas in a pod.

Donnie spent his entire life selflessly pouring into others and bettering all of the communities and structures he was a part of.  He was truly a unique person who greeted everyone with a big, warm smile, genuinely cared about others, and was hard not to love.  His absence has left a void in the hearts of many, but he would want everyone to remember the life he led and to continue his legacy.

Donnie leaves to cherish his memory his high school sweetheart, Josephine Hoover of Charlotte; his daughter, Maya Hoover Capers, and beloved son-in-law, Shawn D. Capers of Charlotte; grandchildren Bianca Capers Ranly (Luke) of Columbia, SC, and Cristopher Capers, Cameron Capers, and Nolan Capers of Charlotte; his brothers, Arthur W. Hoover (Paulette) and Dr. Eddie L. Hoover of Charlotte; brothers-in-law, Joseph Welch, Jr. (Barbara) of Charlotte and Lawrence Tucker, Sr. of Forestville, MD; sisters-in-law, Janice Hoover of Charlotte and Dorothy Forston of Henderson, NC; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.

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In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to one of the following organizations:

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Greater Enrichment Program, Inc.

In memory of Judge Donnie Hoover, Advisory Board Member

Donations can be made online (https://www.gepinc.org/donate) or by mailing a check to:

Greater Enrichment Program, Inc.

2035 Patton Ave.,

Charlotte, NC 28216

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North Carolina Central University School of Law

In memory of Judge Donnie Hoover, Class of 1974

Donations can be made online (https://www.nccu.edu/law/alumni/giving/development) and earmarked for the Law School Annual Fund.