Notable Obituaries Spring 2026

RAYMOND PERRY NEWSOM ’65 1943 – 2025 

RAYMOND PERRY NEWSOM, husband of Carol Capell Newsom, died July 26, 2025, at age 82 in Greenville, South Carolina. A native of Jacksonville, Florida, he graduated from Alfred I. DuPont High School and earned a B.A. from Furman University in 1965. At Furman, Newsom was a member of the men’s baseball team, freshman basketball team, ROTC and Kappa Alpha fraternity. 

He served as an officer in the United States Army during the Vietnam War before beginning a career in business, including 10 years in management at Burlington Industries. In 1977, Newsom joined MassMutual as a career agent and in 1983 founded Corporate Benefits, Inc., a Greenville-based financial services firm serving corporate clients nationwide. He sold the company to NFP in 2001 and remained president and principal until retiring in 2014. 

Newsom was a devoted community member, serving as an elder at Westminster Presbyterian Church and volunteering with numerous local organizations. He served on the Furman University Advisory Board and as president and board member of the Furman Paladin Club, and was inducted into the Furman Athletics Hall of Fame in 2015. 

Known for his generosity and mentorship, Newsom found joy in family, friendship, Furman basketball, golf, fishing and long walks with his dogs, Lady and Vinny. 

ELLA CARROLL WHITEMAN 2007 – 2025 

ELLA CARROLL WHITEMAN of Atlanta died Nov. 8, 2025, at age 18. Born in Colorado Springs, Colorado, she was the beloved daughter of Louis and Maura Whiteman and lived a life defined by compassion, curiosity and adventure. 

Whiteman had a deep love for animals and was known for carrying cat food with her while traveling, ready to help any stray she encountered. Her adventurous spirit took her around the world, from surfing in Ireland and cliff diving in the Azores to snorkeling with sea turtles and sharks in the Caribbean. An accomplished distance runner and basketball player, she completed multiple half marathons and competed on her high school teams. 

Service was central to Whiteman’s life. She volunteered at the Georgia Aquarium, supported residents at senior centers and advocated for animal welfare causes. Her dedication earned her three United States President’s Volunteer Service Awards. 

At the time of her death, Whiteman was a student at Furman University, where she was a member of the running club and actively engaged in campus life. She is survived by her parents; grandparents Anna Whiteman and Thomas and Ellen Seymour; and a large extended family who will remember her kindness, energy and generous heart. 

JAMES “JIMMY” MICHAEL NEY ’64 1943 – 2025 

JAMES “JIMMY” MICHAEL NEY ’64, a philanthropist, attorney and devoted Furman University alumnus, died Nov. 17, 2025, at age 82. An economics graduate, Ney was a member of the Furman football team and later served on the Furman Board of Trustees, becoming an emeritus trustee in 2022. 

Ney began his legal career as a law assistant to the Supreme Court of Georgia before joining Alston & Bird in 1968. He later served as special assistant attorney general for the State of Georgia and special attorney general for the State of Ohio. In 1984, he co-founded Holt Ney Zatcoff & Wasserman LLP, where he practiced until his retirement in 2020. 

A tireless advocate for Furman, Ney served on the Alumni Board, Annual Giving Council and Campaign Executive Committee. He and his wife, Carol, co-chaired the Richard Furman Society and received the Bell Tower Award in 2006. In 2024, Ney was honored with the Gordon L. Blackwell Alumni Service Award. 

Ney was a longtime member of the Order of the Paladin and supported numerous Furman initiatives, scholarships and athletic programs. Active in Mt. Bethel Church and the Cobb Library Foundation, he leaves a legacy of leadership, service and generosity.