Fall 2025 Class Notes

1954

RICHARD “DICK” RILEY ’54, former U.S. Secretary of Education and two-term governor of South Carolina, was recently honored by the state Supreme Court with the Chief Justice’s Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Legal Profession.

1971

CAROLYN GREENWAY BISHOP ’71, president of the Consortium for Global Education, delivered the commencement address at the Southwest Baptist University on Dec. 16, 2024.

1980

SHARON CRAWLEY BRAMLETT ’80 joined the lawyers at Turner Padget who will be serving clients throughout South Carolina in commercial real estate and financing transactions.

WALTER MORAGNE ’80, was recognized along with eight others with a Lifetime Achievement Award by Marquis Who’s Who.

1981

ANGELA WALKER FRANKLIN ’81 was named one of Iowa’s top 25 most influential business leaders of the year by the Des Moines Business Record’s annual Book of Lists.

1983

ELNITA LIPFORD WILLIAMS ’83 and her husband, John, were honored by North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University with a space on the fourth floor of the Martin Complex. John L. Williams Enrichment Way and Elnita Lipford Williams Enlightenment Way were created to honor their philanthropy to N.C. A&T’s College of Engineering.

1984

CYNTHIA “CINDY” DAVIS ’84 received The Carl F. Kohrt Distinguished Alumni Award in recognition of significant professional or personal accomplishments and in gratitude for continued loyalty to Furman University.

1989

CHRIS BROWN ’89 received the Gordon L. Blackwell Alumni Service Award, which recognizes an individual who has demonstrated extraordinary service to Furman University or the greater community, advancing Furman’s position as a private institution with a public mission.

1993

AtWork, a national staffing firm, has opened new locations in Greenville and Spartanburg, S.C., that have been awarded to JASON GRANT ’93.

ELIZABETH “BETH” GRABOWSKI MCBATH ’93 has become a U.S. magistrate judge in the Northern District of Georgia.

1995

DAVID FEILD ’95 has assumed the role of CEO at Colliers South Carolina.

1996

CARMEN ASHLEY ’96, who is chief of the Program Development and Services Branch in the Division of Adolescent and School Health at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, has received The Reid Award, recognizing alumni who have made significant contributions to the career development of Furman students. She lives in Atlanta, Ga.

1998

STACY GRAY ACKERMANN ’98 of Charlotte, N.C., has been appointed global managing partner of law firm K&L Gates.

SHERRIE JEFFRIES ’98 published her first children’s book “Hoodie Trouble” in April 2025.

1999

SARAH BLOSSER BLACKWELL ’99 earned a Doctor of Ministry degree in Christian spirituality from Mercer University’s McAfee School of Theology and was ordained by Providence Baptist Church in Charlotte, N.C.

2002

MATTHEW “MATT” EDWARDS ’02
received an honorable distinction as a Fellow of The American College of Trust and Estate Counsel.

2003

TRACY WELLS MILLER ’03 began a position as priest-in-charge at Zion Episcopal Church in Morris, N.Y., in January 2025.

2004

SEAN ATKINSON ’04 has been appointed dean of the College of Fine Arts at the University of Montevallo in Alabama.

ERIC DEVINE ’04 has been appointed chief underwriting officer for AIG’s innovative Casualty Specialty Markets unit.

2005

ELTON DANIELS ’05 was appointed city manager of Rocky Mount, N.C., in April 2025.

MICHAEL “MIKE” OVERBY ’05 was named deputy director of space affairs for the U.S. Department of State.

First violinist GABRIELLE ROBERTS SWEETS ’05 performed at Lindsey Wilson College in Columbia, Ky., as part of the Four Bridges String Quartet in February 2025.

2007

JESSICA TAYLOR ’07 of Alexandria, Va., received the Tom A. Triplitt Outstanding Young Alumni Award, which recognizes an alumnus or alumna who graduated in the past 20 years and who has brought honor or recognition to Furman through individual accomplishments or as a volunteer. Taylor is the senate and governors editor for The Cook Political Report.

2017

HAYDEN RUDD ’17 successfully defended her Ph.D. in Forestry and Environmental Resources from North Carolina State University in September 2024. She is one of 88 graduate students from across the nation selected as a 2025 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Knauss Marine Policy Fellow.

2024

AUSTYN FEIGENBAUM ’24 was hired by the Tarpon Bay Explorers, the official J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge concessionaire.

 

BIRTHS AND ADOPTIONS

JULIE MCGRATH SINGLETON ’06 and Patrick Singleton, Margaret Mae “Mimi,” July 28, 2024

ROBERT “ROB” BROTHERTON ’08 and Lindsey Brotherton, John Duke Brotherton, Dec. 19, 2024

CHRISTOPHER “CHRIS” PAGLIARO ’12 and ASHLEY HUDSON PAGLIARO ’11, Luca Theodore Pagliaro, Sept. 8, 2024

CHRISTINA BELLINO HAIGHT ’15 and EVAN HAIGHT ’15, Cecilia Ann Haight, Feb. 4, 2024

TRISTAN MACKENZIE MEAGHER ’15 and REBECCA ANN MEAGHER ’16, Bennett MacKenzie Meagher, Jan. 26, 2025

 

MARRIAGES

KATHERINE “KATIE” NORRIS ’06 and Matthew Ahmadi, Oct. 26, 2024

AUDREY NEUMANN LEEDHAM ’15 and Bryce Leedham, July 20, 2024

MATTHEW “MATT” BROWNE ’16 and BERNADETTE HRITZO ’15, Aug. 19, 2023

HANNAH CATHERINE SMITH ’17 and Ryan Brann, Feb. 18, 2024

 

OBITUARIES

BLANCHE CULBERTSON ACREE ’40, Dec. 3, 2024, Moneta, Va.

JOHN JAMES ’44, Jan. 23, 2025, North Port, Fla.

FLORIDE COTHRAN ESCHENBERG ’48, Feb. 20, 2025, Greenville, S.C.

BETTY JACKSON BAKER ’49, Jan. 3, 2025, Hendersonville, N.C.

CAROL KELLEY BENTLEY ’49, Feb. 12, 2025, Front Royal, Va.

LOTTIE WOODS MCCOWAN ’51, March 4, 2025, Greenville, S.C.

ROBERTA GARDNER WEATHERS ’52, May 19, 2025, Winston-Salem, N.C.

ANNE SANDERS WILSON ’53, Jan. 13, 2025, Moore, S.C.

GERALDINE “JERRY” SPIVEY ORRELL ’54, Feb. 17, 2025, Rockville, Md.

JOHN PEARCE ’54, May 4, 2025, Gainesville, Ga.

RITA POOL ARMISTEAD ’56, Feb. 10, 2025, Lakeland, Fla.

DAVID YOUNG ’56, Feb. 3, 2025, Chapel Hill, N.C.

AUBREY DANIELS ’57, March 1, 2025, Atlanta, Ga.

EDWARD KLINTWORTH ’57, Jan. 9, 2025, Charlotte, N.C.

ELIZABETH “BETTY” HUGHES OGLESBY ’57, May 11, 2025, Cary, N.C.

ANN MILLER PEARCE ’57, April 5, 2025, Durham, N.C.

SIBYL DAWSEY THOMAS ’57,Jan. 27, 2025, Greenville, S.C.

EDWARD “CLIATT” ALEWINE ’58, Feb. 4, 2025, Greenville, S.C.

INDA HOWARD BATSON ’58, Jan. 30, 2025, Charleston, S.C.

INA CRAWLEY ’58, Dec. 8, 2024, Gainesville, Ga.

PAUL HAMILTON ’58, Nov. 19, 2024, Johns Island, S.C.

JIMMIE HARLEY ’58, Feb. 16, 2025, Greer, S.C.

MARY BARR CAVE BEHLKE ’59, April 22, 2025, Greenville, S.C.

MARTHA CRENSHAW FOSTER ’59, Feb. 23, 2025, Marietta, S.C.

ROBERT “BOB” HESTER ’59, April 14, 2025, Greenville, S.C.

JEAN STROMAN HUGHES ’59, March 3, 2025, Cordova, S.C.

RAYMOND MIZELL ’59, Dec. 11, 2024,  Aiken, S.C.

CHARLOTTE MUCKENFUSS PLYLER ’59, Jan. 1, 2025, Greensboro, N.C.

BETTY EZELL SHEFTALL ’59, Dec. 22, 2024, Easley, S.C.

WILLIAM VICKERY ’59, Dec. 30, 2024, Simpsonville, S.C.

BARBARA WEST BILERT ’60, Nov. 28, 2024, Carrollton, Ga.

ANNIE MAE HAWTHORNE CLARK ’60, Feb. 23, 2025, Greenville, S.C.

JANET HOOK FLOYD ’60, Nov. 22, 2024, Lake City, S.C.

NITA RENFROE HOPKINS ’60, Feb. 2, 2025, Cary, N.C.

EUNICE BROWN HOWARD ’60, Dec. 31, 2024, Walterboro, S.C.

WILLIAM MOODY ’60, Feb. 7, 2025, Simpsonville, S.C.

EMILY WHITAKER ROMAN ’60, Dec. 23, 2024, Atlanta, Ga.

MARYLYNN FERGUSON SLOOP ’60, Jan. 30, 2025, Moravian Falls, N.C.

NEVILLE CRIBB ’61, Dec. 9, 2024, Hemingway, S.C.

EDWARD GOODSON ’61, Jan. 27, 2025, Fort Mill, S.C.

JOANNE GILLIAM OLIFF ’61, Jan. 21, 2025, Augusta, Ga.

JOE OLIFF ’61, Nov. 25, 2024, Augusta, Ga.

JUNE FLOYD STUBBS ’61, May 23, 2025, Perry, Ga.

THOMAS “TOM” BATSON ’62, May 8, 2025, Greenville, S.C.

BETTE DAVIS JACKSON ’62, April 27, 2025, Black Mountain, N.C.

ROBERT “DAVID” LEWIS ’62, March 8, 2025, Greenville, S.C.

HAROLD “TED” LOTH ’62, Feb. 25, 2025, Whippany, N.J.

JAMES “RUSTY” BURTON ’63, Feb. 5, 2025, Richmond, Va.

LINDA ROGERS MCKEE ’63, March 5, 2025, Wayne, Maine.

CHARLES “TOM” MORRIS ’63, March 15, 2025, Anniston, Ala.

WALTON SMITH ’63, April 23, 2025, Clarksville, Tenn.

DAVID VICKERY ’63, Feb. 23, 2025, Greenville, S.C.

EVELYN “EVE” BALLARD ’64, April 28, 2025, Moore, S.C.

JAMES “JIM” COLEMAN ’64, Feb. 22, 2025, Columbia, S.C.

WILLIAM PATRICK “PAT” HANSELL ’64, June 25, 2024, Florida Ridge, Fla.

VIVIAN HALL MITCHELL ’64, Feb. 11, 2025, Bend, Ore.

THOMAS BOLTON ’65, Dec. 30, 2024, Woodruff, S.C.

JULIAN CARNES ’65, Nov. 18, 2024, Fairhope, Ala.

CAROLYN BAILES HALL ’65, Jan. 30, 2025, Charlotte, N.C.

MICHAEL HENDERSON ’66, Jan. 9, 2025, Simpsonville, S.C.

DAVID HOOPER ’66, March 6, 2025, Irmo, S.C.

KIRK NEELY ’66, Dec. 12, 2024, Spartanburg, S.C.

GARVIN ABBOTT ’68, Dec. 17, 2024, Winston-Salem, N.C.

EDITH TAYLOR CHOU ’68, Feb. 10, 2025, Greenville, S.C.

JUANITA COPELAND JONES ’68, Jan. 20, 2025, Evans, Ga.

LINDA MCKAY ’68, Feb. 24, 2025, Alexandria, Va.

MICHAEL MONGELLI ’68, Feb. 5, 2025, Port Orange, Fla.

MICHAEL MURPHY ’68, Nov. 22, 2024, McDonough, Ga.

ROSE HEATLEY SUMMER ’68, Jan. 12, 2025, Greenville, S.C.

PATRICIA “PAT” SARRATT WRIGHT ’68, Dec. 31, 2024, Sanford, N.C.

LEE FINKLEA ’70, Dec. 10, 2024, Latta, S.C.

DANIEL LIPP ’70, Feb. 11, 2025, Holly Springs, N.C.

ROBERT RANT ’70, Feb. 2, 2025, North Myrtle Beach, S.C.

DAVID “DAVE” GUNTER ’71, Jan. 24, 2025, Tyron, N.C.

MICHAEL LIPSCOMB ’73, Jan. 27, 2025, Cleveland, Ohio.

SHARON “SHAY” BARBER BARNETT ’74, Feb. 5, 2025, Blythewood, S.C.

KAREN BOYD JONES ’75, Jan. 29, 2025, Macon, Ga.

LINDA DODD NEWMAN ’76, Jan. 26, 2025, Greenville, S.C.

MICHAEL PARKER ’76, Nov. 18, 2024, Travelers Rest, S.C.

JAMES KEENAN ’77, Dec. 11, 2024, Houston, Texas

WILLIAM “BILL” PREVOST ’77, May 10, 2025, Brentwood, Tenn.

MARY KELLY ’79, March 17, 2025, Six Mile, S.C.

JAMES “JIM” STRICKLAND ’79, Jan. 26, 2025, Columbia, S.C.

NANCY RIVERS ’81, April 6, 2025, Sarasota, Fla.

TIMOTHY EASTER ’85, Jan. 7, 2025, Greer, S.C.

MARY MOORE ROBERSON ’85, Dec. 15, 2024, Columbia, S.C.

REUBEN ASBURY ’86, Dec. 16, 2024, Taylors, S.C.

ERIC DAVIS ’86, April 12, 2025, Mableton, Ga.

THOMAS “TOMMY” GILBERT ’86, Feb. 19, 2025, Cartersville, Ga.

DAVID CONNOR ’88, April 22, 2025, Washington, N.C.

JO JOHNSON ’88, April 12, 2025, Dacula, Ga.

DAVID PARKER ’88, Feb. 12, 2025, Shelby, N.C.

LISA THOMAS ’90, Feb. 2, 2025, Conway, S.C.

KRISTINE “KRISTI” SMITH CAVIN ’91, March 28, 2025, Peachtree Corners, Ga.

REBECCA GREENE ’91, April 10, 2025, Marietta, S.C.

CARRIE CURETON STRINGER ’93, Feb. 7, 2025, Landrum, S.C.

ROBERT KESLER ’95, Jan. 30, 2025, Laurens, S.C.

RYAN BOGGS ’03, March 19, 2025, Moore, S.C.

JACKSON SOAPES ’23, Dec. 20, 2024, Longwood, Fla.

 

Eleanor “Ellie” Boda
1934 – 2025

Eleanor “Ellie” Boda, who taught generations of students as an adjunct instructor of flute at Furman, passed away on June 17, 2025.

Boda received her Bachelor of Music degree from the Eastman School of Music. She was an elementary music educator in the Greenville County, South Carolina, public schools before teaching at Furman. Boda was a longtime musician in the Greenville Symphony playing flute and piccolo, and played both in the Brevard Music Center Orchestra for many summer seasons.

Boda and her husband Dan, a professor emeritus of music, were fixtures in the Furman library and around campus and loved to travel internationally. Ellie imparted a deep appreciation for music to her students, many of whom went on to stellar careers performing and teaching music.

The couple founded the Daniel and Eleanor Boda String Player Scholarship, the Eleanor and Daniel Boda Flutist Scholarship, the Daniel and Eleanor Boda Scholarship for Orchestral Conducting and the Eleanor and Daniel Boda Scholarship for Music Education. These scholarships have been set up in perpetuity and are awarded to students annually. They will continue the Boda family legacy of keeping music and the arts alive in future generations.

Ellie, whose husband Dan died in June 2024, is survived by two children and four grandchildren.

 

Philip Elliott Jr.
1934 – 2024

Philip “Phil” Elliott Jr. ’56, professor emeritus of English, passed away on Oct. 23, 2024.

Elliott earned his undergraduate degree at Furman and later pursued his master’s at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. After receiving his Ph.D. at the University of Georgia and teaching at Stetson University, Clemson University and North Carolina Wesleyan University, Elliott returned to Furman and joined the faculty in 1967.

During his 32-year tenure, Elliott was known to engage colleagues and students in meaningful conversations about complex issues. His students also held him in high regard as a challenging, enthusiastic teacher. He was known to be a conscientious advisor with high standards who would lend a supportive ear.

Elliott’s publications included articles in “Victorian Poetry” and a book, “The Making of the Memoir,” first published in 1978 and reissued in 1995. The latter is considered a major work of Tennyson scholarship. Elliott served as interim chair of the English department, editor of the Furman Catalog and faculty advisor for the student newspaper, “The Paladin,” and was a valued contributor on numerous university committees.

Phil is survived by his wife, Kacky, two children, four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

 

Lon Knight Jr.
1944 – 2025
Lon Knight Jr., Charles Ezra Daniel Professor Emeritus of Chemistry, passed away on May 2, 2025.

After completing his undergraduate degree at Mercer University, Knight earned his Ph.D. from the University of Florida. He joined Furman’s faculty in 1971 and served for 48 years.

Knight was known as a consummate scholar. During his first 30 years at Furman, he averaged more than three publications per year in top journals. In 1989, Knight became the fourth recipient of the American Chemical Society Award for Research at an Undergraduate Institution and was widely recognized as one of the top scientists in the world in the field of electron spin resonance. His body of work was completed largely with the assistance of undergraduate students and with highly sophisticated instruments designed and built by Knight himself.

In 1981, Knight became chair of the chemistry department, a role he held for 33 years. Under his leadership, the department grew into one of the best equipped and most productive undergraduate chemistry programs in the country.

Knight also wrote and received multiple highly competitive grants. Of particular significance was his leadership in creating the Kresge Endowment that provides critical maintenance support for the chemistry department’s extensive equipment holdings. His key role in the design and construction of the Charles H. Townes Science Center was transformational across the sciences at Furman.

In 2006, Knight received the Alester G. Furman Jr. and Janie Earle Furman Meritorious Teaching Award. Knight retired in 2019. He is survived by his wife, Marian, three daughters and two grandchildren.

 

 

ABOUT CLASS NOTES

We welcome your submissions to Class Notes. Due to the amount of material Furman receives for this section – and the time needed to edit that material – items are often not published until six months after they are submitted. However, please be advised that we rarely publish items more than 18 months old and no announcements of things that have not yet occurred. When sending news of births, please include the parent name(s), child’s name, birthdate and city of birth; for marriages, include the city and date of the event, the new spouse’s name, and his/her year of graduation if from Furman. News about couples who graduated from Furman in different years is listed under the earliest graduation date. It is not listed with both classes. Incomplete information for any of the above may result in the submission remaining unpublished. The magazine reserves the right to edit submissions.