Merl Code honored for lifetime of service and advocacy
January 30, 2025
Greenville’s first African American municipal court judge, Merl Code, was recently honored as the Riley-Wilkins OneSouthCarolina Civic Leadership Award winner for his life of public service and advocacy on behalf of minority communities.
The award, bestowed annually alongside a legislative award by the Riley Institute at Furman University, recognizes leaders who influence equitable opportunities for all South Carolinians to thrive. At the celebration, held in Columbia on January 14, 2025, Code was recognized for the courage his many “firsts” took, as well as his willingness to speak out on behalf of underrepresented minority interests.
Among Code’s many accomplishments, he served as the first African American chairman of the Greenville Chamber of Commerce, spearheading what has since developed into the Minority Business Accelerator.
Code has also served on a number of community boards, including the Furman University Board of Trustees and BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina Board of Directors, and he is a strong advocate for African American business development and social change. Code has received many awards and honors, including the Order of the Palmetto, South Carolina’s highest civilian award and the Compleat Lawyer Award by the South Carolina Bar Association.