Vi Lyles

Viola Alexander Lyles (born September 28, 1952) is an American politician serving as the 59th mayor of Charlotte, North Carolina, since 2017. A member of the Democratic Party, Lyles was a member of the Charlotte City Council before taking office as mayor. Education and personal life Lyles was raised in Columbia, South Carolina. Her father owned his own construction company and her mother worked as a teacher. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in political science from Queens University of Charlotte and a Master of Public Administration from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Lyles was married to Wayne Alexander, a North Carolina State Attorney who went on to open his own private practice, for 12 years until his death in 1987. Lyles later married John Lyles and they remained so until to his death in 2013. Lyles has two children from her first marriage, Kwame Alexander and Aisha Alexander-Young. Her daughter is well known for her contributions to philanthropy, as well as her political commentary and community organizing. Career