Historic Marker Unveiled in Raleigh Honoring Civil Rights Attorney Willis ‘Bill’ Graves Jr

A new North Carolina Civil Rights Trail marker now stands in honor of Willis “Bill” Graves Jr., a pioneering civil rights attorney who fought against racial housing discrimination in landmark cases.

The dedication ceremony took place Saturday at 814 Oberlin Road, Graves’ birthplace and childhood home, which now serves as the statewide headquarters for Preservation North Carolina (PNC). The event, held during Black History Month, highlighted Graves’ legacy and the broader impact of African American leaders in the civil rights movement.

Graves, who was born in Raleigh in 1890, attended Saint Augustine’s and Shaw University before earning his law degree from Howard University in 1919. He later built a distinguished legal career in Detroit, working alongside Thurgood Marshall on Shelley v. Kraemer, the 1948 U.S. Supreme Court case that struck down racially restrictive housing covenants. That decision laid the groundwork for future civil rights victories, including Brown v. Board of Education.

Shelley v. Kraemer was a pivotal case in the fight against systemic housing discrimination, ensuring that courts could not enforce racially restrictive agreements. Graves’ legal work contributed to dismantling institutional barriers that prevented African Americans from owning homes in certain neighborhoods, a major step toward racial equality in housing.

“This marker serves as a tribute to a man whose legal battles reshaped American history,” said Benjamin Briggs, president and CEO of Preservation North Carolina. “His work continues to inspire us today.”

Members of the Graves family, community leaders, and local historians attended the ceremony. Following the dedication, guests toured PNC’s headquarters, housed in the Graves-Fields House and the neighboring Hall House.

The marker is part of the North Carolina Civil Rights Trail, an initiative led by the N.C. African American Heritage Commission to highlight key figures and sites in the civil rights movement. The William G. Pomeroy Foundation provided funding for the sign, ensuring that Graves’ contributions will be remembered for generations to come.