CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Hattie Massey Leeper, the pioneering broadcaster known to generations of listeners as “Chatty Hatty,” died Tuesday, October 13, at age 98. Her death was reported by Charlotte’s WSOC-TV and The Charlotte Post.
Recognized as North Carolina’s first Black female radio announcer, Leeper helped open doors at a time when racial segregation and gender barriers severely limited opportunities in broadcasting. Her work at Charlotte’s WGIV-AM made her an important voice in the city’s Black community and part of the history of American rhythm-and-blues radio.
From a teenage assistant to a voice of Charlotte
Born in Edgemoor, South Carolina, Leeper began working at WGIV while a 14-year-old student at Charlotte’s Second Ward High School. She started with work behind the scenes before moving to the microphone, eventually becoming the only woman in an otherwise all-male announcing lineup. She also worked at Charlotte stations WRPL and WAYS during a broadcasting career spanning 18 years.
WGIV was more than a source of music. Its announcers promoted local businesses, supported community events and introduced listeners to artists who were transforming American popular culture. Leeper brought that community connection to the air while developing a reputation that extended beyond Charlotte.
A champion for artists and future broadcasters
Leeper’s influence reached well beyond her on-air shifts. She promoted and booked performances involving such major names as James Brown, Sam Cooke, Otis Redding, Aretha Franklin, Tina Turner, Patti LaBelle and Smokey Robinson. She also wrote and produced music, owned a record store and operated her own record label, AwarE, which supported emerging talent.
During segregation, Black artists traveling through Charlotte sometimes faced restrictions on where they could eat or stay. In a 2023 interview with The Charlotte Post, Leeper recalled how visiting performers were welcomed into her family’s home for meals. Her memories illustrated the relationships between local radio personalities, national recording artists and the communities they served.
After leaving day-to-day radio broadcasting, Leeper taught at Johnson C. Smith University and Gaston College. She retired in 1998 from her role leading Gaston College’s broadcasting department and also founded Chatty’s School of Communications. She was recognized by multiple broadcasting halls of fame, including the National Black Radio Hall of Fame.
Remembered for her voice—and what she made possible
“Our grandmother was a trailblazer who believed in the power of her voice to connect people,” granddaughter Hatiya Dunlap said in a family statement reported by WSOC-TV. The family remembered Leeper for her determination, creativity and faith, as well as her contributions to broadcasting.
In her 2023 interview with The Charlotte Post, Leeper explained why radio continued to mean so much to her even decades after leaving the air: “It’s in your blood.” She remembered the pleasure of recognizing listeners’ birthdays and milestones and making a personal connection through the microphone.
Her career is a reminder of an era when the local radio personality was not merely a music presenter, but a trusted neighbor, cultural connector and advocate for the community. That legacy survives in the broadcasters she inspired and the doors she helped open for women in radio.
Funeral and memorial arrangements had not been announced as of the initial October 13 reports. A cause of death has not been confirmed in the reporting reviewed by RNN.
For a firsthand record of Leeper’s broadcasting experiences, the University of North Carolina at Charlotte maintains an oral history interview with her.