Meet Our Directors
Wilbert R. Morris
Director/Secretary
A native North Carolinian, graduates of Shaw University with a B.A. degree in Behavioral Sciences, NC Central University with an M.A.in Counseling, and post graduate work in Sociology at NC State University. Served 30+ years in human services with the NC Department of Health and Human Services, rising to senior management in the NC Division of Social Services as Associate Director. After retirement served as a county department of social services implementation liaison for a major DHHS automation project, as interim director of a county department of social services and a substitute teacher. An active member of Sigma, having joined in 1970 while a student at Shaw University, having held various leadership positions at the chapter, State and regional level.
Darius L. McLaurin
Chairman
resides in Raleigh, North Carolina. He earned his B.A.,
magna cum laude, from Johnson C. Smith University and his MBA at Central Michigan University.
Willie O. Sinclair
Director/Treasurer
Served as treasurer of the Sigma Scholars Foundation since 2019. In 2020 I was inducted into the Eta Sigma Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma. Grew up in Raeford NC. After graduation I attended NC Wesleyan College and NC A&T State University obtaining a degree in Business Administration. Relocated to Raleigh NC in 1970 and obtained employment with Carolina Power & Light Company, and was employed there for twenty years. Progressive growth there to the capacity of Budget Director in the Quality Assurance Department.
In 1998 started a screen printing and embroidery company called Raleigh Tees and ran this successful business for twenty four years, selling it in 2012 and retired. Became a member of Martin Street Baptist Church in 1992 and have served in many capacities: Trustee, Finance Committee Chair, and Budget Committee Chair, as well as a member of the Male Chorus and active in Sunday School. Happily married to Janice Sinclair since 1965 and the proud father of one son and one grandson. Favorite scripture is “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”.
Donald R. McMillian
Director
Became a member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc in the fall of 1986 at NC State University and joined the Eta Sigma chapter in Raleigh in 2014. Served on the board of Sigma Scholars Foundation since 2018. Since graduating from North Carolina Central University with a Computer Science degree and working in this field for a number of years, my passion led to a different path. He has always been an entrepreneur with an interest in helping people, business and financial services.
After working as a Personal Financial Advisor for a number of years, he became the visionary behind multiple mental health companies that provides treatment to children who are unable to sustain in their home environment. Donald is committed and focused on using his time and talents to help improve the lives of others.
William G. Smith
Director
William G. Smith is a resident of Durham, North Carolina and a former resident of Elizabeth City,
North Carolina and a native of Windsor, North Carolina (Bertie County). Smith is a graduate of
North Carolina Central University where he received a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Administration.
Smith currently serves as the Director of Development for the Biomanufacturing Research
Institute & Technology Enterprise (“BRITE”) at North Carolina Central University (“NCCU”).
At BRITE, Smith leads the fundraising efforts, serves as the liaison for BRITE’s industry
Advisory Committee, and coordinates BRITE’s Life Sciences industry partnerships. Previously,
Smith served as the Vice Chancellor of Institutional Advancement/Chief Fundraising Officer for
Elizabeth City State University (“ECSU”) from 2009-2014. As Vice Chancellor at ECSU, he
provided leadership for Alumni Relations, the Annual Fund, Community Development, the Radio
& TV Services, the ECSU Foundation, and University Relations and Marketing.
A career banking executive, Smith served as President and Chief Executive Officer for Mutual
Community Savings Bank Inc. SSB, having been appointed to that position in July of 2001 by the
Bank’s Board of Directors. Smith also served as a member of the Bank’s Board of Directors. He
led the successful merger of Mutual Community Savings Bank, Inc. SSB with Mechanics and
Farmers Bancorp, Inc. in March 2008.
Before joining Mutual Community Savings Bank, Inc., SSB, Smith was a First
Union/Wachovia (now Wells Fargo) executive serving as Senior Vice President and Sales
Leader of Community Development for First Union/Wachovia’s six states Mid-Atlantic Bank.
Smith has been active in the community for many years and has served in leadership roles on
various boards and committees to include the following: University of North Carolina Board of
Governors, the North Carolina Education Bond Oversight Committee, Chairman of North
Carolina Central University Board of Trustees, President of the North Carolina Central University
Foundation and a Trustee for Triangle Transit Authority. Smith is also member of the Sigma Pi
Phi Fraternity (the Boule’).
Dale L. Thomas, Jr. Esq.
Director
An attorney and partner at the law firm of Gray Newell Thomas, LLP. The practice area focuses on residential and commercial real estate law. He attended East Carolina University where he received a B.S. in Political Science (2005) and received his J.D. from North Carolina Central University School of Law (2009). While attending East Carolina, Mr. Thomas joined Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. in the Fall of 2002. He has served in various capacities on the Local, State and Regional levels of the Fraternity.
Mr. Howard
Director
I live my life by three principles: God, Family, and Community. It’s these principles that led me to becoming a member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity to serve my community. I became a member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. at the Eta Sigma Chapter in Raleigh NC, in April of 2019. Since then I have been an active member serving in our young men youth auxiliary group Sigma Beta as an Advisor. I am also the current chapter Bigger Better Business Director and serving on the NC State Bigger Better Business Committee in the Fraternity. Currently work as Site Reliability Engineer at Cohesity, with 8 year experience in the Information Technology Field. Earned BS degree in Computer and Information Science at ECPI University.
Bennett C. David, Esq., MBA
Board Member
Bennett C. David, Esq., MBA is a Patent Attorney at Coats & Bennett, PLLC has followed an aggressive academic and legal path since graduating from Raleigh’s Enloe High School in 2007. He attended A&T State University and graduated with a B.S. in Computer Engineering and was immediately employed at Credit Suisse as a Technical Support Analyst before deciding to Study Law at Boston’s Suffolk University, one of the nation’s top legal writing programs in the country. He enrolled in Suffolk University’s dual MBA/Law program and, in 2015, graduated with an MBA (concentrating in Strategic Leadership and Management), and a Juris Doctor of Law focusing on Intellectual Property Law.
Bennett is licensed to practice law in the North Carolina, as well as the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and is also licensed at the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) to practice Intellectual Property Law Nationwide.
Since 2016, Bennett has been employed at several IP Law firms in locations such as Boston Massachusetts, Salt Lake City Utah, to Washington DC area, and has come full circle bringing a substantial amount of knowledge and experience to the Research Triangle area. He has joined and has become an essential component of the Law Firm of Coats and Bennett, LLC located in Cary NC.
Bennett grew up in church and was a lifelong member of Watts Chapel Baptist Church where he professed Christianity at a young age. As a teenager, he served 4 years as Youth President of the NC State Laymen’s League Auxiliary of the General State Baptist Convention of NC. Upon returning to Raleigh, He joined Raleigh’s Eta Sigma of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity and has forged many friendships among that “Band of Brothers”.