Massey, 72, died Feb. 5.
City Councilman D.J. Haire said Massey supported fairness in the workplace. Massey wanted city government to reflect Fayetteville s place as a melting pot of diversity, Haire said.
Charles Evans, chairman of the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners, said that when Massey said something people knew they could take it to the bank. Massey wanted to help people, Evans said. He was a trooper when it came to people that aren t as fortunate as others, Evans said.
Massey served on the City Council from 1992 to 2014. During that time, he helped revitalize downtown, improve drinking water in western Fayetteville, and expand the city s transit system, according to a 2013 Fayetteville Observer article.