Cecil L. Whitley

Cecil Whitley is the founding partner of Whitley, Jordan, Inge & Rary, PA. He was born and raised in Union County, North Carolina on tenant farm raising cotton, corn, and wheat. Upon graduation, he earned a bachelor’s degree from Catawba College and a master’s degree from Appalachian State University. Out of college, Mr. Whitley was drafted into the United States Army during the Vietnam War reaching the rank of First Lieutenant. While in Vietnam, he served with the 1^st Infantry Division and the 101^st Airborne Division where he achieved three Broze Stars (Oak Leaf Cluster), a Silver Star, Combat Infantry Badge, and numerous other medals.

After 3 years of military service, Mr. Whitley attended and graduated from Wake Forest University Law School. Upon graduation, he started his law practice in Salisbury, North Carolina where he has been continuously practicing since 1973. Mr. Whitley still enjoys counseling people on their legal matters and primarily focuses on traffic tickets, driver license restorations, and DMV hearings.

When not at the office, you can find Cecil cutting down a tree on his property, feeding his animals, assisting Veteran's groups, and assisting with local youth softball programs.  He is happily married to his wife, Nan, and they have two children, Alex and Adrian and four grandchildren.

Honors, Awards, Associations

• The John B. McMillan Distinguished Service Award (2016)
• The Citizen Lawyer Award (2022)
• The Chief Justice’s Professional Certificate Award (2023)
• 50 Year Lawyer Certificate (2023)
• Member of Fulton Masonic Lodge #99
• US Army
• 1st Lt.
• Combat veteran
• Vietnam
• Infantry
• Has written a number of manuscripts on motor vehicle law and professionalism and has presented the same at several continuing legal education seminars
• Manuscript topics include suspensions, revocations, restorations, medical reviews, reformation of the division of motor vehicle driving records, limited driving privilege, driving while impaired license restoration hearings, and multiphase permanent license restoration hearings, including habitual felony while impaired restoration hearings and expunctions.

Darrin D. Jordan

Darrin Jordan and Cecil Whitley have been practicing law together for over 20 years. Darrin was born and raised in Salisbury, North Carolina and graduated from Salisbury High School. He received a bachelor’s degree from Catawba College and his law degree from Campbell University.

In 2021, Mr. Jordan became the first attorney from Rowan County to be sworn in as President of the North Carolina State Bar, the regulatory body that governs all lawyers in the state. Mr. Jordan was the Bar Councilor for Rowan County for 9 years prior to his service on the executive leadership team for the State Bar. During this time period he served in a variety of capacities including as the Chair of the N.C. Indigent Defense Services Commission. Mr. Jordan has been a Board Certified Specialist in State Criminal Law since 2004 and maintains an active practice in state and federal criminal law.



Darrin and his wife, Dana, have two children, Martin and Anna. Away from the office, you can find Darrin on a trout stream in Western North Carolina where he serves as a trout fishing guide for Tuck Fly Shop in Sylva, North Carolina.

Honors, Awards, Associations

• Board member of the Hanford Dole American Red Cross (2001-2010)
• Board member of Rowan Helping Ministries (2011-2017)
• John Rubin Award for Extraordinary Contributions Defense Training Programs (2012)
• Board member of Meals on Wheels of Rowan County (2023-present)
• Member of the North Carolina Innocence Inquiry Commission (2024-present)
• Member of Rotary International
• Member of the Allen Graham #695 Masonic Lodge
• Criminal law specialist board-certified by the North Carolina State Bar (2004)
• Death penalty qualified
• Cub Master of Cub Scout Pack 254, Bethpage United Methodist Church, Kannapolis, NC
• Recipient of the District Award of Merit, BSA (February 2011)
• Has written a number of manuscripts and served as a presenter at several continuing legal education seminars
• Has been responsible for setting up numerous CLEs for the Rowan County Bar Association focusing on criminal, traffic, domestic law, and other topics of interest in the law.

Robert L. Inge

Robert Inge joined forces with Cecil Whitley and Darrin Jordan in 2018 to form Whitley, Jordan & Inge, PA combining one of the best Family Law/Domestic attorneys with one of the best Criminal Defense firms in Salisbury. Robert was born in Lynchburg, Virginia and grew up in Greensboro, North Carolina. He received his bachelor’s degree and his law degree from Campbell University.

Robert is a Board Certified Specialist in Family Law and a member of the prestigious American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. Mr. Inge is one of only forty lawyers in North Carolina to achieve this distinction! Robert is also a Certified Family Financial Mediator. His practice includes: divorce, child custody, child support, equitable distribution, alimony, termination of parental rights, adoptions, and domestic violence protective orders (50Bs).

Robert is married to his wife Traci and they share two children and two grandchildren. When not at the office, you can find Robert and Traci cruising North Carolina on their Harley Davidson motorcycles.

Honors, Awards, Associations

• Board Certified Family Law Specialist
• Fellow – American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers
• NCDRC - Certified Family Financial Mediator
• Member – Standing Committee on Local Rules for Family Court
• Teen Court Judge
• Former Board Member of Families First

W. Marlowe Rary, II

mrary@wjilaw.com

Marlowe Rary joined Whitley, Jordan & Inge, PA in 2018 and became a named partner in 2021. Marlowe was born and raised in Salisbury, North Carolina and graduated from Salisbury High School. He received a bachelor’s degree from The University of North Carolina Wilmington, a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from University of Phoenix, and a law degree from Charlotte School of Law.

Prior to practicing law, Mr. Rary was an educator in Rowan-Salisbury School System where he taught middle grades Social Studies at Corriher-Lipe Middle School. He credits this experience with his unique ability to spot the issues and breakdown the law in a way that his clients and juries can understand. Mr. Rary is responsible for the law firm’s district court practice including handling the majority of Driving While Impaired (DWI), drug possession, assault, and traffic charges. He is also responsible for the law firm’s personal injury practice and has settled more than $1 million worth of cases.

In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his wife, Christina, and their two children, Emerson and MJ. He is an avid golfer and NASCAR fan (Kyle Larson).

Honors, Awards, Associations

• North Carolina Teaching Fellow
• Presidential Scholar at Charlotte Law
• National Trial Lawyer’s Top 40 Under 40
• Member of North Carolina Advocates for Justice
• Board Member for Rowan Helping Ministries