Merle Vance Moten was welcomed to life on January 28, 1957 as the first child to his parents, the late Gouvernor Vance "Amos'' Moten and the late Christine Dulin Moten. He departed his life on August 19, 2022 after a gallant fight with several comorbidities. His father preceded him in death on May 17, 1971 and his mother preceded him on September 27, 2015. Two of his siblings, Gerald Trent Moten and Avis Miranda Moten preceded him on March 14, 1999 and March 28, 2019 respectively.


He obeyed the Gospel of Christ on May 25, 1970 under the teachings of the late Dr. R. C. Wells and was baptized by the late Bro. Charles Singleton, both of the Washington Heights Church of Christ which was officially renamed the Harlem Church of Christ in 1985. He was an active brother in the Church of Christ and would defend the Word of God immediately when error was taught or believed. He loved acapella singing with his dynamic lead and bass voice. He enjoyed being in the Electrifying Easternnaires as he trained many young men to sing bass. He also enjoyed being part of Christian Bond, a family acapella group composed of his siblings and two great-singing church brothers, Brian Dickerson and Charles Smith.


Educated in the New York City Board of Education's public school system, Merle graduated June 1975 from George Westinghouse High School for Boys in Brooklyn, NY where he spent most of his early years growing up. He had a gift with optical, dental skills and wood carpentry, much like his father. He went on to gain college credits at CUNY's City College located in upper Harlem. He also studied Architecture at The School of Design and Construction in Brooklyn, NY. In May 1978, he married Beverly Bradley of Newark, NJ and from that union one child, Christopher Moten, was welcomed into their life. Christopher blessed him with four beautiful grandchildren: J'Den (mother, Sheree Bell) and Lena Renae, Christopher Bryan and Joshua Moten from his lovely and forever daughter-in-law, Ms. Angela Ashley-Moten, all of Fresno, Texas.


Merle was gifted with the use of his hands and could design and fix anything wooden or electrical and he enjoyed all kinds of electronic games, word games and puzzles. He worked several jobs until he found his niche as a dye-cutter for Select-O-Flash in West Orange, NJ. His proudest accomplishment was when Select-O-Flash was chosen to re-design the United States Postal Service's Bald Eagle logo to what we now see on their vehicles. Select-O-Flash also designed magnets of the American flag and yellow ribbon magnets to bring and welcome US troops home. He labored at Select-O-Flash for 32+ years until their financial closure. Simultaneously his health became compromised and he retired and began to enjoy the "next chapter," which involved his moving to Houston, Texas with his son and family. Merle was an avid NY Jets and NY Knicks fan. He would pray each season that the NY Jets would make it to the Super Bowl. God answered that prayer fast. One would also catch him watching the NY
Mets, too.


Subsequently his longings returned him to his birthplace of North Carolina where he settled in the beautiful City of Winston-Salem along with his beautiful "Baby Black," (his Chrysler 300). He also reconnected with the Dulin and Moten families and remained an active member of the Redland Church of Christ until his debilitating health and departure.


Loving and cherishing his memories are his son, Christopher Moten (Angela Ashley-Moten) and four grandchildren: J' Den Darious, Christopher Bryan, Lena Renae and Joshua, all of Fresno, TX; Beverly Bradley of Houston, TX; his sister, Reva G. Moten of Harlem, New York City; his niece, Avery Christine Moten-Black of Irvington, NJ; his aunts: Sadie L. Dulin Chambers of New York, NY, Juanita Dulin-Fisher of Woodleaf, NC, Ovella Dulin-Fortson (Edward Earl Sr.) of Portsmouth, VA and Melissa Dulin of Winston-Salem, NC; several first cousins and a host of other cousins, relatives and friends from Statesville and Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Virginia, Texas, New York and New Jersey. He will be missed by his Church of Christ families at Redland in Advance, NC; Harlem, New York City; Newark, NJ and Brooklyn, NY; lifelong friends of Merle are Robert Bloomfield and wife Dorothy of Richmond, Virginia (co-worker for 32+ years) and Brian Dickerson of New York City (family friend and Lil Brother).

Homegoing services will be conducted on 11:00 A.M. Saturday, August 27, 2022 at Redland Church of Christ, 4302 US-158, Advance, North Carolina 27006 with family visitation at 10:00 A.M. prior to the service. Public viewing be Saturday at the church. Interment will follow in the church cemetery. Facial coverings and/or masks are required for the services.

All floral deliveries are to be sent to Roberts Chapel (Mocksville), 953 Salisbury Street, Mocksville, NC 27028