Robert "Bobby" Long

Robert (Bobby) Black Long of Mint Hill, NC died December 24, 2025. He was born on December 13, 1926, in Charlotte, NC to the late Robert J. and Leitha Long, and grew up in the Bethel community, graduating from Bethel High School.

He will primarily be remembered for his massive love for his country, community, and, most of all, family and friends.

In 1944, he enthusiastically joined the US Navy and served on the Atlantic during WWII as a Radarman Class 3. In keeping with his pride as a war veteran, he was chairman of the Mecklenburg County Veteran’s Commission from 1976 to 2002. Bobby and several other WWII veterans started the Mint Hill Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) in 1950, and he served as the Post Commander in 1954, 1966, and 1976. He also served as District Commander for a year and one term as state Chairman for the VFW.

Bobby also was a member of the Midland Chapter of the American Legion post with over 50 years of continuous membership. All who knew him in his later years will know that he was so proud to wear his WWII Veteran’s Cap as he frequently visited his favorite Mint Hill restaurants where he was sure to bump into many good friends.

Bobby adopted Mint Hill as his permanent home in 1950 and has been the solid rock for this community ever since. He worked for Maxwell Brothers Furniture in Concord for many years but found his best fit as a realtor in Mint Hill.

He joined Philadelphia Presbyterian Church when he moved to Mint Hill, where he served as Deacon, Elder, and Elder Emeritus. He even helped Ruth Wilson keep the church nursery for 19 years because of his love for children. In September 2022, he was honored as the recipient of the “Bain Cane” given to the oldest living male of the Church.

Realizing how long it took the Charlotte Fire Department to respond to fires in Mint Hill, Bob and several other friends chartered the Volunteer Fire Department in 1953, where he continued to be active for the rest of his life, even serving as Treasurer for 13 years. He was the last living charter member. In appreciation of his dedication to the Fire Department, the firemen named their station the “Robert B. Long Fire Station” in May 2013.

Bob was a charter member of the Mint Hill Masonic Lodge in 1968. In 2019, the Lodge designated him as “Man of the Year” for his abundance of community service. In 2023, he was awarded his 70-year Masonic Lodge membership pin.

After the town of Mint Hill was chartered in 1971, Bob became the first elected Mayor and served until 1975. He was most proud of 2 things while on the council: getting the first stoplight installed in the town square and getting an ambulance service for Mint Hill.

In addition, he also assisted his wife, Betty, as a volunteer for the American Red Cross for disaster services where they helped NC communities devastated by tornados and hurricanes.

Bob is predeceased by his wife of 64 years, Betty Wilson Long and his daughter-in-law, Patti Hagler Long. He is survived by his siblings George Edwin Long (Ann) of Midland, NC and Jane Long Carriker (widow of Bunk Carriker) of Mint Hill. Bob is also survived by his daughter, Debra Long Hunt (Gary) of Durham, NC and son, Robert Michael Long of Mint Hill; granddaughters Lindsay Hunt of Durham, NC and Lauren Hunt Baylin (Ricky) of Great Falls, Virginia; and his great-grandson, Bennett Baylin and his great-granddaughter, Elyse Baylin; several nieces and nephews, and thousands of friends who will dearly miss him.

Visitation will be held at the McEwen Funeral Home in Mint Hill on Tuesday, December 30, from 5-7pm. The funeral service will be held at Philadelphia Presbyterian Church on Wednesday, December 31, at 2pm, with the burial conducted in the Sunset Memorial Garden in Mint Hill.

Because of his love and commitment to the Mint Hill Volunteer Fire Department for over 70 years, Bobby requested that memorial donations be sent to the Mint Hill Fire Prevention Bureau (previously the Mint Hill Volunteer Fire Department Benevolent Fund).