PLAINFIELD, NJ — At Monday's Plainfield City Council meeting, the council and Mayor Adrian Mapp honored Councilman Charles McRae as the city mourned the longtime Third Ward representative, whose Celebration of Life will be held Saturday.
McRae's wife, Sylvia, and his daughters, Stephanie and Courtney, were on hand for the ceremony, where they were presented with a proclamation from the council. Council President Julienne Cherry read the proclamation into the record.
“Councilman McRae was committed to his role as an elected official, serving his constituents in the Third Ward and, more broadly speaking, serving every resident in the city of Plainfield,” said Mayor Adrian Mapp. “He took pride in his work as a councilman and as a long-standing member of the Planning Board. He has been there for most of my tenure as mayor and has been, in large measure, jointly responsible for the transformation that has occurred in the city of Plainfield during my tenure as mayor.”
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“One of the many things I admired about Charles was how unshakable he was. He knew the issues. He studied the agenda. And came to his position not based solely on principle—and certainly not under pressure—but always on what was in the best interest of the city of Plainfield,” continued the mayor. “He never succumbed to the loud voices in the room. He knew where he stood, and no matter how loud you scream, he stayed true to his core values and to his well-thought-out positions.”
After Adrian Mapp took office as mayor in 2014, Charles McRae ran for the Democratic nomination to succeed him as the Third Ward council representative. Mapp endorsed McRae in that unsuccessful campaign, as well as the three successful campaigns that followed in 2016, 2020 and 2024.
Mapp offered condolences to McRae's family, particularly his wife, daughters and grandchildren. “I will miss him greatly,” said Mapp.
During his emotional remarks, Citywide at-large Councilman Steve Hockaday offered condolences to the family of his fraternity brother and two-time running mate.
“I had the honor of sitting on the Zoning Board of Adjustment with Charles McRae, and over time we became really close,” said First Ward Councilman Robert Graham. “I felt comfortable enough to just have very candid conversations with him about growing up as an African-American male and the challenges that come with that.”
“To see this man stand tall and walk as proud as he did, it just gave me more strength,” said Graham, who gave condolences to his family. "He will always be one of us forever because he is a sitting councilman, and we lost a great man in this community, and he will truly be missed."
Second and Third Ward at-large Councilman Richard Wyatt shared several anecdotes of the friendship he built with McRae despite operating from opposing political circles during their nearly four years on the council together.
“Charles was the reason I sometimes—well, most of the time—tried to hide my laughter during council meetings,” said Wyatt, who shares a birthday with McRae. “He would lean over and say something funny as only he could, leaving me struggling to keep a straight face.”
“He would call me just to talk junk, and we would laugh together,” said Wyatt, who sat alongside McRae during council meetings and at many events. “Other times he would call me crazy for taking on one fight or another. Beneath our political differences, however, was a genuine relationship built on mutual respect.”
Giving condolences to the family, he spoke of McRae's love for his wife, children, and grandkids. “You could hear the love and pride in his voice every time he talked about them,” said Wyatt.
Fourth Ward Councilwoman Terri Briggs-Jones spoke fondly of the bond they built over their growing families in recent years.
“I said ‘Charles, why do you never smile? You never smile,” recounted Briggs-Jones, jokingly. “I said, but let’s talk about grandchildren. As soon as I said that, he had to smile.”
Briggs-Jones became a grandmother herself this year, and said she and McRae bonded as grandparents, showing each other videos of their grandkids' latest exploits. Her uncle was also the longtime next-door neighbor and friend of Charles McRae.
“I'll be praying for you, the family, for comfort because we know that we've endured night, but joy comes in the morning,” said Briggs-Jones. “There's still going to be a missing spot in your hearts, but you're still going to carry him in your heart forever. Rest on, Brother Charles.”
Funeral services for Charles McRae will be held on Saturday, September 19 at Covenant United Methodist Church at 631 East Front Street in Plainfield. The viewing will take place from 9-10:30am, followed by the Kappa Alpha Psi Ceremony from 10:30-10:45am, and the Celebration of Life at 11am.