BELVILLE — A small town abutting Leland, along the Cape Fear River, has announced the passing of its mayor.
Michael Allen was 75 and served as Belville’s top elected leader for seven terms and before that was a town commissioner in 2009. He died peacefully in his sleep overnight, according to officials.
“We are heartbroken by this loss, but we are so grateful for the time that we had with him. He loved this town and dedicated his life to serving its residents. Funeral arrangements are pending and will be announced in the near future,” Charles Bost, who is Belville’s Mayor Pro Tem, said in a release.
The Belville commissioners will hold a special meeting on Friday, Aug. 1, and plan to hold a moment of silence while also voting on Bost to become acting mayor. A new mayor will be voted on this November.
Allen was running for another term in this year’s municipal election, set to face off against Nia Moore. The Board of Elections is now reopening candidate filing in accordance with state statute. It mandates filing reopens an additional five days — set for Thursday, July 31, through Wednesday, Aug. 6 — when a vacancy occurs under such conditions.
Born and raised in Robeson County, Allen migrated to Brunswick County in the late ’60s to work for AT&T. He was drafted a few years later by the military, but returned and was employed by the Southport Police Department and Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office. He continued to serve in the National Guard as well, helping direct the first gender-integrated company, according to North Brunswick Magazine.
The Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office honored Allen’s 30 years of law enforcement service to the town and county, noting his accolades and accomplishments on its socials Wednesday morning. Allen received of the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, granted by the North Carolina governor, earlier this year.
“Mike Allen’s life was a testament to service, leadership, and integrity. Whether wearing the uniform of a soldier, the badge of a deputy, or the mantle of a mayor, he led with heart, vision, and an unwavering sense of duty,” BCSO officials posted.
As Belville’s mayor, Allen helped usher in H2GO’s reverse-osmosis plant to bring clean water to area residents, who faced PFAS contamination for years from industries upstream.
“I kept a promise that I made to the people of my town — that they wanted clean, safe water in their pipelines coming into their homes,” he said at H2GO’s groundbreaking ceremony in 2020.
Allen also championed the revitalization efforts of downtown Belville, to promote growth and economic development. He was part of Belville’s Riverwalk expansion project, including the Veteran’s Memorial. Allen often officiated the veteran’s events on Memorial and Veteran’s Day.
Brunswick County commissioners deeded the property to the town in 2013. Today, it remains a main attraction and hosts numerous festivals, concerts, farmers markets and more.
“We agreed to make changes and improve it,” Allen said in 2021, according to previous PCD reporting. “We’ve been continuing that process ever since.”
The mayor spoke with PCD about the Riverwalk’s grounds and history beneath it in 2023. A history buff, Allen detailed collections of ruins found near the nature trails, including foundations and masonry remnants of buildings constructed by slaves on the Buchoi Plantation. He added there were significant pieces of military history as well, including two documented skirmishes between the Patriots and Loyalists during the Revolution. He hoped this history would instill pride within the community.
One Brunswick County commissioner, who worked closely with Allen through the Riverwalk expansion project and in other capacities, was saddened to hear of the mayor’s death Wednesday.
“Mike was a public servant and community leader who loved Brunswick County and loved his Town,” Frank Williams wrote in a statement to PCD. “He was a passionate advocate for his town and our community. Mike served our nation in the U.S. Army, served Brunswick County as a deputy sheriff, and served the Town of Belville as a town commissioner and, most recently, as Mayor. Beyond all of that, Mike was a good friend. His passing leaves a gaping hole in Brunswick County and the Town of Belville.”
Allen also served as the representative for the Military Ocean Terminal at Sunny Point and was on the Transportation Advisory Committee with the Wilmington Urban Area Metropolitan Planning Organization. In 2024, he helped secure grants to increase pedestrian pathways connecting to Belville neighborhoods and amenities along Highway 133.
Belville Town Hall closed Wednesday, June 30, in observance of the mayor’s passing and public service. According to the town website, Allen was married for 46 years and leaves behind his wife, two sons and grandchildren.
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