In this series, the Indianapolis Recorder explores love, family and friendship among the city’s community leaders and residents.
Jeremy, Marshawn and Michael Wolley are brothers who are committed to making an impact in their community. Here, they share some of their favorite childhood memories, what inspires the work they do, and lessons learned from their parents Elaine and Michael Wolley Sr.
Eldest brother Marshawn is the president and CEO of Black Onyx Management Inc., the CEO of 1865 Analytics and the co-owner of Edgewater Financial Group. Michael II, also known as Antwone, is the assistant chief of police for the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD). The youngest brother, Jeremy, is the principal at Pike High School.
This email Q&A has been edited for length and clarity.
What activities do you most enjoy doing together?
Marshawn: I do enjoy the occasional gatherings for birthdays. It’s good to see my brothers and their families, especially my adorable niece and nephews. While it should be expected, I don’t take for granted that three Black male brothers are all successful, educated — each of us have at least one master’s degree, and taking care of households.
Michael (Antwone): When we do connect, it’s usually around holidays or important milestones, which makes those moments even more meaningful. If you see us all together, there’s always plenty of food and at least one controversial topic up for discussion. It wouldn’t be the same without it!
Jeremy: I enjoy attending our children’s birthday parties. It’s surreal seeing our children celebrate with each other as grown men with families.
How has your relationship evolved over the years?
Marshawn: I’ve always felt responsible for my brothers. But as they have grown older and achieved professionally and gotten married, I came to recognize that they don’t actually need me. They are strong, educated, independent and talented Black men. I love that about them, but I still watch out.
Michael: We have a group text where we stay updated on important career decisions and family matters. Growing up, I was the rock of the family, but in recent years, that responsibility has shifted to Jeremy.
Jeremy: I am the glue in the family that keeps everyone connected. I’m no longer just “the baby brother” and can also offer sound insight that is respected — or at least it better be!
What’s your favorite family recipe and who makes it best?
Michael: I’m not much of a cook myself. I was blessed with Toni Wolley, who makes sure our family eats well. Both of my brothers have their own specialty dishes, and they both cook them well. I’m not sure who’s the best overall, but I’m sure they’d both claim the title.
Jeremy: Both of my brothers are awful cooks. I am hands down the “chef” of the three — however, Marshawn makes pretty solid sides.
Marshawn: I am the cook of the family. I make the best everything hands down. Around the holidays, they may get some of my Brussels sprouts and bacon and sauteed kale and bacon, but only if I am being nice.
What are some of your favorite memories growing up?
Jeremy: One winter after school when I was about 6 or 7, Antwone (Michael) and I got locked out of the house after school. It was snowing, so he thought it’d be a good idea to build a chair out of snow for me to sit in until my parents got home. I sat in the “snow chair” outside in the middle of winter until they got home. I couldn’t feel my lower body after a few minutes. We laugh about it now, but he was dead wrong.
With Marshawn being the oldest, he always assumed the role of protector but would also make sure Antwone and I could hold our own around older kids his age. I remember lots of typical things brothers did as children — wrestling, play-fighting etc. — and he was always the clear winner. Then I remember shortly after starting high school, lifting weights and hitting a growth spurt that I was getting closer to Marshawn in size. I soon realized that I could fold him like laundry and still can to this day.
Seeing both of my brothers become fathers is by far the greatest memory. They’re great dads and raising great young men. My wife and I have a son and daughter, and they’ll have some amazing cousins to look up to.
Michael: One of my favorite memories is from when Marshawn and I missed the school bus because we were caught up playing video games. After weeks of trying, we had finally managed to rent a copy of Double Dragon for Nintendo, and we played it nonstop, even Monday morning before school. All I remember is hearing the school bus’s brakes stopping in front of our apartment, sending a shockwave of terror through us because we knew we’d be in big trouble if we missed it. We chased the bus to several different bus stops, but each time Marshawn got close, it would pull away. Eventually, I ended up puking from all the running. I was a bit short for my weight at the time of my life, so running was a challenge for me. Let’s just say, we got in a lot of trouble that day.
Jeremy mentioned one of my favorite stories, but I also remember the time we got in trouble for shaving off Jeremy’s eyebrows. In the ‘90s, it was popular to have a part in your eyebrow, and after attempting to cut one into mine, I convinced Jeremy to let me try on him, too. Jeremy had the biggest, bushiest eyebrows that my mom absolutely adored. I got a little too aggressive with the clippers and accidentally cut off half of his eyebrow. My mom was so upset. She actually cried! Needless to say, I got in a lot of trouble for that one.
Marshawn: (I remember) watching Jeremy play football with the big kids. When he was little, I was always there to make sure no one hurt him or really touched him. I think he was able to develop confidence as a runner because no one would touch him while I was there. But he actually is a really good athlete or was a really good athlete. Now he is just old and delusional.
I also liked watching Antwone (Michael) play football in the neighborhood too. Growing up he was a little chubby because he liked to eat chicken fat, which was gross, but he was always fast and had great hands. He would surprise people who didn’t know him.
I also remember snowball fights, water fights and the occasional brother tussles. To this day, I know that if I am ever in a snowball fight with either of them, I can throw a snowball high in the air and while they are concerned about that, nail them.
How did your upbringing influence the type of work you do?
Michael: I grew up in a household where discipline, service to the community and hard work were expected values. These qualities were reinforced through my involvement in athletics, which taught me the importance of being part of something larger than myself, teamwork and grit. All these values align naturally with police work, where discipline is essential for safety, teamwork is crucial for effectively serving the community, and the dedication to service goes hand in hand with making a positive impact. The lessons from my upbringing laid a strong foundation for my role in law enforcement, where I strive to uphold the standards of integrity, resilience and commitment instilled in me from a young age.
Marshawn: My parents are religious; I am not. They spent a lot of time out in the community witnessing or evangelizing. I saw my dad interacting with a lot of different kinds of people and I also saw him advocating for people. He would pull up to a (fast food) drive-thru and tell them they should let the homeless man in and given him a glass of water because no one was invisible to him, and he used his voice to speak out. I think I picked that up.
Jeremy: As the youngest, I grew up with very strong role models in my parents, Michael Sr. and Elaine Wolley. Both of my parents are former U.S. Marines and are retired public servants. My father retired from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office and my mother retired from the Social Security Administration. My family has always had a strong foundation of caring for others, discipline and an internal obligation to make the world a better place. My mother and father were excellent examples of the importance of having a relationship with God, a strong work ethic and deep concern for the well-being of others.
Having Marshawn and Antwone (Michael) as older brothers and role models has been a blessing to my life. Specifically, I’ve learned to remain relentless in pursuit of my goals, remain principled in my decision-making and lead others with compassion. I decided to pursue a career in education at a young age mainly because I saw it as an avenue to leave the same mark on the community that the mentorship and guidance of my brothers left on me.
What were some of the most important lessons you learned from your parents?
Michael: The biggest lesson is that God and my immediate family are the most important things in my life. Their importance should be evident in all my actions and form the foundation for every decision I make. My relationship with God and my family is my greatest asset and my biggest responsibility.
Marshawn: I think I gained an internal fortitude and to not care what people think of me but to also demand respect. I am not religious but growing up in the church I learned to fight for God’s people. I have interpreted that as people who need help. My mother is a fierce fighter but only when she must do so. She also cares deeply about people who need help. My dad showed me how to be a man in a world where Black men must navigate difficult situations. We grew up with strength, discipline, courage and (a drive) to pursue goals. We learned compassion for people. I also learned to take pride in being Black.
My parents taught me that people will use your strength and to be careful about who you allow around you. My mom says, “don’t take no wooden nickels.” She expects us to not be fools and to not suffer them either.
Jeremy: 1) I am nothing without God. 2) Be confident and bold about what you desire out of life. From the perspective of setting goals, you don’t have to “wait your turn” to achieve anything. If you want something and you’re willing to work hard for it, you can have it now. 3) Leave your community and the people around you better than you found it.
As community leaders, how does your bond as brothers help you? How do you all support one another in your work?
Michael: Growing up in the same household, we share the same core values and outlook on what’s important. We have a loving but competitive nature that pushes us to keep improving ourselves. At the same time, the differences in our careers have given each of us unique perspectives on various topics. We often reach out to one another for advice or a fresh opinion as we navigate challenges, changes and new experiences. This support and shared understanding strengthen us in our roles and keep us grounded.
Marshawn: I’ve had very informative conversations with my brothers about education and law enforcement that have informed how I have tried to lead within the community, specifically on those issues. My brothers are at the upper echelons of their professions. They make me so proud.
Jeremy: I can’t go a few weeks without someone telling me they either saw, know, or just spoke to one of my brothers. They have also assisted me with things related to my job in various phases of my career. I believe we are all interconnected as public servants.
There’s been a seed planted in the three of us to love and care about other people and I’m confident that our children will have the same desire to impact others. I know that I can call either of them for pieces of wisdom, insight, or professional guidance. Although I am the most intelligent and well-rounded of the three (wink), they’ve never let me down when I’ve needed them.
Is there anything else you would like to share?
Michael: I just want my brothers to know that I love them and how proud I am of them. I can’t go anywhere in this city without someone telling me they’ve just met with, spoken to, or worked with Jeremy or Marshawn. It’s truly an honor to sit back and hear about the influence that we, three boys from the same family, have had on this large city. Seeing the impact we’re able to make as individuals and together as a family is incredibly humbling. I can’t wait to see what the next generation of Wolleys will do in this world. They will be great.
If you have a story on love, family or friendship you would like to share, email us at newsroom@indyrecorder.com and use “Love in Color” in the subject line.
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Contact Editor-in-Chief Camike Jones at 317-762-7850.
