Alfred E. Cleveland, III

Alfred Eugene Cleveland, III passed away on June 27, 2017. Born on July 14, 1935, he was a proud native of Murfreesboro, NC.  Al was the son of Alfred Eugene Cleveland, Jr. and Marjorie Pipkin Cleveland. 

Al attended Valley Forge Military Academy and graduated from Georgetown University School of Foreign Service in 1956.  After graduating from law school at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1959, he joined the army as an enlisted man in the infantry, and then received a commission as a first lieutenant in the army JAG corps.  He commenced practicing law in Fayetteville in 1960.  During his 57-year association with the law firm that eventually became McCoy, Wiggins, Cleveland and McLean PLLC, he was active in the areas of banking, mergers and acquisitions, commercial real estate, utilities law, and charitable trusts and estate planning. Al was highly regarded for his professionalism, legal ethics and compassion.  He was consistently nominated by his peers and listed in Best Lawyers of America.

Al was former president of the Cumberland County Bar Association and of the 12th Judicial Bar Association.  He also served on the Board of Directors of United Carolina Bank Corporation, Mid-South Insurance Company, and BB&T Corporation.

Al was a trustee of Fayetteville State University and chairman of the Board of Trustees of Fayetteville Academy.  He was chairman of the Board of Trustees of Methodist University where he was awarded an honorary degree for his service and commitment to excellence. Al also served as president of the Cumberland Community Foundation and president and chairman of the board of directors of the Thomas R. and Elizabeth E. McLean Foundation.

Al is survived by his wife of more than 50 years, Jane McNeill Cleveland, and by his daughters Kendrick C. Fentress (Brandon) and Jennifer C. Elam (Paul) both of Raleigh and by his brother Louis Cleveland and family of New York City. He was predeceased by a son, David Ransom Cleveland. The joy of his life was his grandchildren Will and James Fentress and Sam and Rebekah Elam whom he often entertained with stories of his childhood.

Service will be at 11:00 am on Friday, June 30 at Highland Presbyterian Church in Fayetteville, NC. The family will receive friends in the fellowship hall following the service.  A private burial will follow.

In lieu of flowers, please send contributions to Methodist University, 5400 Ramsey Street, Fayetteville, NC  28311, Highland Presbyterian Church, 111 Highland Avenue, Fayetteville, NC  28305, or Cumberland Community Foundation, 308 Green Street, Suite 208, Fayetteville, NC  28301.