DeWitt Clinton McCotter, III

Dewitt Clinton McCotter, III, 85, died peacefully on November 18, 2024, at Brekenridge Retirement Center in Rocky Mount, NC. He was a devoted and loving husband and father, a wonderful friend and a highly respected attorney. Dewitt was born and grew up in New Bern, NC. Other than family, his first love was the outdoors. From childhood, he spent as much free time as possible on a boat, in a hunting blind or on a golf course. Later in life he became a consummate and passionate blue-water big-game fisherman. He will be missed by all who had the privilege of knowing him.

DeWitt graduated from Woodberry Forest School, VA; and then UNC-Chapel Hill, NC, where he received both his undergraduate and law degrees. During law school, He served on the Board of Editors for the North Carolina Law Review and was a member of the Order of the Coif, an honor society for students who graduate within the top ten percent of their class. After law school he entered law practice with the firm of Spruill, Trotter, and Lane in Rocky Mount, where he soon became a partner. The firm subsequently became Spruill, Lane, Carlton, McCotter and Jolly; and later was known as Spruill and Spruill. After merging with the Raleigh firm of Poyner, Geraghty, Hartsfield & Townsend, the firm became Poyner Spruill, as it currently is known. DeWitt was its managing partner for over a decade. He focused his practice on corporate law, contracts, purchases and sales of businesses, real estate transactions and shareholder disputes. He also devoted a significant part of his practice to municipal law and served as city attorney for the City of Rocky Mount and as general counsel for the North Carolina Municipal Power Agencies and ElectriCities of North Carolina. After retiring from active practice, he regularly helped resolve disputes among litigating parties by serving as a mediator certified by the NC Dispute Resolution Commission.

DeWitt leaves behind Denny, his loving wife of 63 years, daughter Katie (Morehead City, NC), son Clint (Mt. Pleasant, SC) and cousin John McCotter (New Bern, NC). There are many wonderful stories about DeWitt told by family, friends and colleagues who knew him as a very skilled and successful lawyer, a cherished and loyal friend and a fair, kind, funny and adventurous spirit. He always brought laughter and joy to others. DeWitt was cared for in his last days by the amazing staff at Brekenridge, whom he loved and who meant so much to his family. There will be a service and interment for Dewitt at St. Andrews Episcopal Church in Morehead City, NC, on Tuesday December 17, at 11:00 a.m. There also will be a celebration of his life with friends in Rocky Mount at a later date.