Poyner Spruill mourns the loss of Marvin Musselwhite, Jr., and Mark Edwards, both of whom were influential attorneys who helped shape the firm as we know it today.
Marvin, a North Carolina native who grew up in Clinton, attended Duke University on a football scholarship. After graduating from Duke University School of Law, Marvin joined the Raleigh office of Poyner, Geraghty, Hartsfield & Townsend in 1963. Over the course of the next 50 years, Marvin demonstrated tremendous versatility in his law practice—first focusing his practice on litigation, corporate law, and commercial real estate law, then after serving two terms in the North Carolina House of Representatives, Marvin founded and led the firm’s Government Affairs Section. He was well-known and respected as a lobbyist and was repeatedly recognized as a top lobbyist in North Carolina over the course of many years.
When Marvin joined the firm in the 1960’s, Poyner, Geraghty, Hartsfield & Townsend was one of the largest law firms in the state with a grand total of 13 attorneys. Over the years, Marvin continually encouraged the growth of the firm. To that end, working hand-in-hand with DeWitt McCotter, the two of them were instrumental in shepherding the successful merger in January of 1986 of Poyner, Geraghty, Hartsfield & Townsend and Spruill & Spruill. After the merger, Marvin served as co-managing partner during the all-important first years of Poyner Spruill.
In addition to being an accomplished attorney and a trusted mentor, Marvin and his wife, Bobbi, were actively involved in numerous civic, charitable, and church activities in the Triangle. Marvin passed away in January of this year at the age of 85. Poyner Spruill will always remember Marvin as a valued colleague, visionary, and friend.
Likewise, Mark Edwards significantly influenced the growth of Poyner Spruill. Mark, an Asheville native and graduate of both Duke University and Duke University School of Law, was a very accomplished tax and trusts and estates attorney. When he joined Poyner Spruill in 1988 as a founding member of the firm’s Charlotte office, Mark’s stellar reputation gave the Charlotte office instant credibility. He made many lasting contributions to Poyner Spruill, including serving on the firm’s Management Committee for several years. In this role, he was known for carefully analyzing challenges facing the firm and helping to craft strategies to respond to the same.
During his years at Poyner Spruill, Mark was in constant demand to share his wealth of knowledge—both within and outside of the firm. He spoke at more than 100 national taxation and estate planning institutes and was a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel. He also taught an estate planning seminar at Duke University School of Law as an adjunct professor. He was the author of numerous editions of the North Carolina Probate Handbook, which has since been named for him. Mark’s Handbook was an incredible resource that virtually every North Carolina law firm had in their library.
Music was a life-long passion for Mark. He contributed his talents in the church choir and established a fund honoring the church’s music director that ensured the music program would flourish. Mark and his wife, Doris, were active members of the Charlotte community, supporting various organizations.
Mark passed away at 83 years old in June 2023. He was an integral member of Poyner Spruill and his contributions to the success of the firm were numerous.
We feel fortunate to have known Mark and Marvin both as professional colleagues and as our friends. Their contributions to the firm have continued to have a lasting impact.
May they rest in peace.
