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SEABOARD – Alfred Kwasikpui has met a lot of people over the years.

Not only in the courtroom during his days as an assistant district attorney and then district court judge, but also in many other aspects of life too. From serving in the Army JAG Corp to serving in church to serving as a town commissioner, he has kept himself plenty busy over the years.

“Life is so short, and I want to experience what I can while I can,” he explained.

Kwasikpui was born in New York City, the son of two college professors. Their family moved a few times when he was a child, but he spent most of his youth growing up in Greensboro. He then attended Shaw University for his undergraduate studies where he met the love his life, Shirley.

After that, he earned his law degree from Wake Forest University. He and Shirley got married, and then he joined the US Army as a JAG (Judge Advocate General) lawyer, where he spent three years stationed in Missouri on active duty.

Then, the next chapter in their lives led them to rural North Carolina. This year marks 40 years since they moved to Seaboard in Northampton County.

“David Beard hired me as an assistant district attorney,” Kwasikpui explained about the reason for the move in 1985.

He served in that position for five years, working to get justice for victims of various crimes.

“It was a great job,” he said, reflecting back on that time. “I learned the area. I came to know a lot of people.”

In 1990, Kwasikpui took the opportunity to run for district court judge. The district (6B) at that time covered Northampton, Hertford, and Bertie counties. He won the election, becoming the first African American district court judge for District 6B.

But that first term got off to an unusual start. He was sworn in at the beginning of December 1990, but just two short months later, he was called back to active JAG duty when “Desert Storm” began. He explained that the lawyers stationed at Fort Bragg had been sent overseas, so he and others were sent to Fort Bragg to fill in for them during that time. That duty assignment, however, only lasted a few months before he was able to return home to Seaboard.

At the same time, the chief district court judge for District 6B, Robert Earl Williford, became ill and left his position.

“The day I came off active duty, I was appointed chief district court judge,” Kwasikpui recalled. “That made me the second African American chief district court judge in the state’s history.”

His career as a judge continued until 2010, and he said he was blessed to hold the position for all those years. But these days, he doesn’t miss the courtroom.

“That was a chapter of my life, and I enjoyed it,” he said. “And now I’m glad to be able to do something different in my life. I’m enjoying learning new things.”

Kwasikpui still manages to stay busy. He’s an active member of Bethlehem Baptist Church in Seaboard, where he serves on several committees and also as a deacon and trustee. Since 2017, he was elected to serve as a Seaboard town commissioner and as Mayor Pro-Tem.

In the past, he’s volunteered in different organizations, including co-chair of the Northampton County Citizens Against Coal Ash and as co-founder for the Exodus for Youth organization, which provided activities for local young people. He fondly recalled coordinating “Lake Day” every summer for the organization, where they would take the group to Lake Gaston for a free day of fun. And he’s also the Vice President of the Weldon-Seaboard Shaw University alumni chapter, helping to support student scholarships for his alma mater.

Kwasikpui said he and Shirley get a chance to travel more now than when he was working as an assistant DA and a judge. The couple likes to explore new destinations as well as visit their two sons, their daughters-in-law, and their grandchildren. He said he’s really looking forward to an upcoming trip to Ghana this year, the country where his father grew up before moving to the United States.

Looking back on his career, Kwasikpui said his greatest accomplishments were the times when he was able to make a positive impact on people. That impact could have ranged from providing activities for the youth organization to doling out some “tough love” in the courtroom. He said it means a lot to him when people tell him later that they were able to turn things around in their lives.

“I remain grateful to the people that elected me to the position of district court judge,” he emphasized. “I had to be a role model for the community.”

He acknowledged that he couldn’t have made his contribution to Black history without all the people who paved the way first by working to obtain the right to vote and encouraging others to pursue positions that weren’t previously open to them.

“I’m just thankful,” he said, summing it all up.