Vi Lyles’ husband John Lyles

Mo John Lyles

Mr. John Lyles was the loving husband of  Democratic Mayor-elect for Charlotte Vi Lyles. His impressive wife defeated Republican politician Kenny Smith in the general election.

Vi, born Viola Aisha Alexander in 1951, in Columbia, South Carolina became the first African American woman; Mrs. Lyles holds a bachelor of arts degree in political science from the Queens University of Charlotte; in addition to that, she also received her master of public administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

The first thing you need to know is that Vi’s husband of 17 years, John Thomas Lyles, was born in 1944. He was diagnosed with Pancreatic cancer in 2011. He passed away at his home in Charlotte on September 10, 2013.

When I first met John Lyles, he opened car doors, pulled out my chair and cared about me and our families.  John and I were happily married for 17 years.

In 2011, while I was working to bring the largest and most visible convention in Charlotte, the Democratic National Convention, John was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.  I cried a lot that December.  I can tell you that John was truly amazing.  He made calls for fundraising; inquired about the campaign daily if not hourly; told me every day that we were going to live with cancer. 

John lost his battle with cancer; but he continues to live in my heart.

Moreover, John has two children from a previous marriage, 48-year-old John Lyles Jr., and Sean Lyles, 47, now married to Debra; Vi on the other has two children from a previous relationship as well,  Kwame Alexander and Aisha Alexander.