City of Belmont Announces the Passing of Former Mayor Charles Martin
July 2, 2025
It is with profound sadness that the City of Belmont announces the passing of former Mayor Charles “Charlie” R. Martin on Tuesday, July 1, 2025.
Mayor Martin dedicated nearly two decades of service to the City of Belmont, serving as a Council Member for eight years and as Mayor for approximately ten years. He concluded his final term with his resignation on June 28, 2023, due to personal health reasons.
A longtime Belmont resident, Mayor Martin considered Belmont his “hometown,” despite being raised in New York. After attending Belmont Abbey College, he fell in love with the community and chose to make Belmont his permanent home. During his formal farewell from office, Mayor Martin stated, “It was an honor and privilege to serve as your Mayor. I truly enjoyed every moment and will cherish my time serving, considering this as one of my life’s highlights.”
Recently, Mayor Martin was awarded the prestigious Order of the Long Leaf Pine from the State of North Carolina and received the honor during a private ceremony on Sunday, June 29, 2025.
During his tenure, Mayor Martin oversaw significant milestones and improvements, including the continued development of Belmont’s vibrant downtown; various North Carolina Main Street awards and recognitions; the creation of Kevin Loftin Riverfront Park and Ebb Gantt Park; construction of the new Police Department facility, the CityWorks operations facility, and the CityRec recreation center; guidance through the COVID-19 pandemic; and major development projects such as Belmont Town Center, Chronicle Mill, and the revitalization of East Belmont.
The members of the Belmont City Council – Mayor Pro Tem Jim Hefferan, Council Members Charlie Hill, Kathryn Lewis, Jason Rumfelt, and Alex Szucs – extend their deepest condolences to Mayor Martin’s wife, his five children, and their extended family during this time of loss. The Council also expresses heartfelt gratitude to his family for sharing his time and leadership with the Belmont community.
Mayor Pro Tem Hefferan shared, “We are saddened by the news of Charlie’s passing. There was no better ambassador for the City of Belmont. Charlie was a people-person and seemed to know most everyone in town. Whether through coaching sports, Queen of the Apostles Church, Belmont Abbey College, or numerous civic engagements, Charlie always gave his best for Belmont. On behalf of the City Council, I want to thank Charlie for his many years of service and leadership.”
Funeral arrangements are currently being coordinated by the family.