Romeo Alexander, 97 of Charlotte, died peacefully on Sunday January 26, 2020 at his home.

Romeo was born October 17, 1922, to Cyrus W. and Lucille Kirkpatrick Alexander, one of eight children, Talmadge, Cyrus, Jr., Warren, Willie, Berniece, Rosemond, Oren and his son Wayne.  Romeo and Oren had a very special relationship bonded together, both passing one day apart of each other.

A Charlotte native, Romeo saw his hometown grow and change for almost 10 decades.  In many ways he was part of the change.  He attended Charlotte's segregated public schools and found his love of football and entrepreneurship.  He served in the Great War sending his pay home for his Mother and siblings.  On his return to the United States, he worked in New Jersey and Chicago.  And from Chicago, he began his first business venture.  With Oren, he opened a corner store in Charlotte's African American community.  It was so successful, he returned home and a life of business acumen began with restaurants and real estate.

The Charlotte historian Tom Hanchett wrote these words about Romeo and his famous Razades restaurant- "Razades was one the surprisingly few restaurants owned and run by African Americans in Charlotte." "It was on suburban Statesville Avenue, in its own custom-built building, a stylish, modern design in brick and glass black that looked like something that "Rat Pack" bon Vivian's Frank Sinatra and Sammie Davis Jr., might visit."  It was the African American school's prom dinner place to be.

Romeo also owned and operated the Oaklawn Tavern on Oaklawn Avenue.  He worked very hard in those days with a goal to be an independent Black man who would define his own destiny.  And there he would begin a real estate business, even when he would not allowed to borrow money from banks, another vestige of segregation in Charlotte.

He persevered by working with men in the white community who recognized his business acumen, tenacity and drive to begin a real estate and property management business. Many of these properties currently exist in parts of this community that are quickly gentrifying today.  He had foresight!

During his time in this city, he was recognized by his gifts to the people he served.  In 1951, he was one of the black men leading the fund-raising drive to build West Charlotte High School's athletic fields.  He held many leadership positions within Rameses Temple 51.  He funded scholarships for children in the Greenville community to attend college.

He loved his Lake Norman house, entertaining many churches; political campaigns and other worthy organizations.  He loved baseball and football, going to the Braves games in Atlanta; the Washington football games before becoming a Carolina Panther fan.  And he could be found driving all over the westside in his pick-up truck just to see friends.

A Presbyterian all his life, he was a member of Statesville Avenue Presbyterian Church under Reverend Wilburn Sanders and later joined Memorial Presbyterian Church with Reverend Edward E. Newberry.

In 1949, he married Frances Gormley, the mother of his three boys, Wayne who predeceased him; Michael and Mark.  In June 2001, he married Annie Lois Bryant, who helped to manage his real estate business and cared for him by his side until his death.

He is survived by Annie, his wife of 20 years, his son Michael and wife Pam; his son Mark; daughter, Ginia Romenetta Scott, his grandson Wayne Kwame and his wife Ashley and his daughters, Arya and Maya; granddaughter Aisha Alexander and her husband Jeffrey and her daughter Hailey; and step-daughter Ebonee' Bryant.  He was also predeceased by his grandson, TJ Mackins.

His love for others includes the Honorable Vi Alexander Lyles, Mayor of Charlotte and Sylvia Alexander, his trusted partner in business.

Romeo lived 98 years on this earth and in this city, and he not only survived being a Black man in a world of change, he thrived.  And now he is at peace; a man with a vision who achieved his dreams.