News from campus and beyond
Class Notes
The daughter of Cathy Stevens ’01 and Erik Ching passed away on Nov. 7, 2023. Her Furman community came together to donate a memorial tree and bench in Halle’s honor.
1974
DAVID J. HOLLY ’74 was inducted into the South Carolina Tennis Hall of Fame in November 2023. He played tennis at Furman where he served as a team captain.
1992
AMES ASBELL ’92 began a three-year term as president of the American Viola Society in July 2023. She was elected to the AVS board in 2016 and was president-elect in 2020. Asbell is currently an associate professor of viola at Texas State University, a principal viola of the Austin Opera, and a violist in the Austin Symphony Orchestra.
1993
MALCOLM MURRAY ’93 retired from the Union County North Carolina Sheriff’s Office in June 2023 after 29 years of service.
2006
MATTHEW JOHNSON ’06 was named branch librarian of the Chesnee branch of the Spartanburg County Public Library System.
2009
JADE LAWSON FOUNTAIN ’09 was promoted to director of operations for The YoPro Know, a consulting company that specializes in young professional recruitment and retention. The YoPro Know was founded by KAMBER PARKER BOWDEN ’17.
2018
KATHERINE CROSBY ’18 works at Virginia Tech’s bacterial genomics lab. She is the co-author of a research article focused on the bacterial genus, Pantoea, which was published in “Frontiers in Microbiology” in November 2023.
MARRIAGES
MATTHEW JOHNSON ’06 and SHERYL J. MANN, Oct. 25, 2023
KIRSTEN BAKER ARMS ’21 and MICAH ARMS ’21, July 1, 2023
BIRTHS AND ADOPTIONS
JOSEPH WATERS ’05 and MOLLY BENEDUM WATERS ’07, Frances Patricia Anne Waters, Feb. 3, 2024
SARAH SCHIAVONI CATMUR ’11 and JOHN CATMUR ’11, Audrey Grace Catmur, Jan. 6, 2024
CAROLINE NEAL HOVDESVEN ’11 and STEVEN HOVDESVEN ’11, Theodoric Holt Hovdesven, Jan. 14, 2024
BROOKE STALLINGS HUMPHREY ’11 and Joe Humphrey, Eliza Brooke Humphrey, June 19, 2023
ARLEY TURNER-ALLEN ’13 and COREY ALLEN ’13, Lewis Grey Allen, April 27, 2024
JASMINE RETHMEYER MCQUERRY ’14 and Casey McQuerry, Lily Elaine McQuerry, June 11, 2023
MADELINE WARD ZWINGELBERG ’15 and HART ZWINGELBERG ’15, Langston Mila Zwingelberg, Aug. 22, 2023
OBITUARIES
Tom Baez
TOM BAEZ
1956–2024
Tom Baez, former director of the Trone Center for Mental Fitness at Furman University, passed away on July 13, 2024, while visiting his family in Puerto Rico.
Baez retired from Furman in May 2024 and was a valued member of the university for more than six years. He was dedicated to his work and family and made a great impact on the Trone Center for Mental Fitness.
DAN BODA
1931–2024
Dan Boda
Dan Boda, professor emeritus of violin and conductor of the Furman Symphony Orchestra from 1967 to 1992, passed away on June 24, 2024, in Atlanta with his wife Ellie at his side.
His tenure at Furman included conducting the Furman Symphony Orchestra and serving on many university committees. The Boda family is deeply rooted at Furman. In addition to Dan’s service on the faculty, his wife Ellie Boda taught flute in Furman’s music department. The Bodas became proud parents and grandparents to Furman graduates including daughter Dr. Elaine Boda ’83; son Alan Boda ’82 and his wife Rev. Karen Boda ’84; and grandchildren Brian ’14, Katherine ’16 and Allison ’20.
In February 2020, Dan and Ellie Boda were awarded Furman’s Honorary Alumni Award, in acknowledgment of their commitment to Furman through 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.
CYNTHIA BROWN
1957–2024
Cynthia “Cindy” June Southerland Brown, 66, wife of David Jim Brown, passed away on July 22, 2024.
She lived a vibrant life and was a friend to all during her time at Furman. Though her passing was unexpected, the impact she had on those around her cannot be overstated. She retired from Furman in May 2023 after 13 years as a valued custodian.
In addition to her husband, Cynthia Brown is survived by two sons, Travis Brown (Jordan) and Justin Brown (Cheyenne); 11 grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and sisters, Donna Helton and Sheila Jamison.
Peggy Good ’67
PEGGY GOOD
1945–2024
Peggy Ellison Good ’67 died Aug. 1, 2024 from complications of pulmonary fibrosis. She was 78.
Good, who was married for 57 years to P. Edwin “Ed” Good ’67, was a member of the Furman University Board of Trustees from 2000 to 2006. She received the Blackwell Alumni Service Award in 2006. Good had been a remarkable student at Furman, graduating with the Donaldson Medal as the outstanding female scholar.
Peggy and Ed both went on to graduate school at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Ed Good was also a trustee and served as chair from 2020 to 2022. The couple’s three sons are also Furman graduates: Paul ’93, Matt ’96, and Jon ’97.
Philip Hill
PHIL HILL
1934–2024
Phil Hill, professor of drama emeritus, passed away on July 12, 2024.
He was 89.
Hill joined Furman’s faculty in 1964. As a professor and colleague at Furman, Hill was highly respected, characterized by his energy and dedication. This was evident in his investment in teaching, directing and his students.
His 34-year tenure on the faculty included directing and producing numerous performances and a longtime stint as department chair. His devotion to duty also included extensive committee and university service.
Dan Sanders
DAN SANDERS
1939–2024
Dan Sanders, a three-term Furman University trustee from 2010 to 2018, passed away on Aug. 7, 2024 at the age of 84. As a trustee he co-chaired the parents committee and served on the advisory council and the executive committee of the Richard Furman Society. He was elected a trustee emeritus in 2019.
Sanders, a graduate of the University of South Carolina, began work as an engineer for Exxon in 1962. He retired in 2004 as president of ExxonMobil Chemical Co.
Sanders’ wife, Emilyn Childs Sanders, is a Furman trustee emerita. She served three terms on the board from 1995 to 2008. Dan and Emilyn’s sons, Dan Jr. and John, are Furman alumni. John graduated in 1988. Dan Jr. graduated in 1986; he’s married to Furman graduate Suzanne Sanders ’88. Their sons and their wives also graduated from Furman; Daniel and Amanda in 2016 and William and Madeline in 2019.
The daughter of Cathy Stevens ’01 and Erik Ching passed away on Nov. 7, 2023. Her Furman community came together to donate a memorial tree and bench in Halle’s honor.
IN MEMORY OF HALLE CATHRYN MIKEL CHING
The daughter of Cathy Stevens ’01 and Erik Ching passed away on Nov. 7, 2023. Her Furman community came together to donate a memorial tree and bench in Halle’s honor on the lake side of the Rose Garden, a beautiful and serene spot for reflection.
Stevens is a senior associate with Furman’s Riley Institute and Ching is the associate provost for engaged learning, the Walter Kenneth Mattison Professor of History and the director of undergraduate research at Furman.
Halle, 13, is survived by her parents, her adoring brothers Anders (15) and Evan (9) Ching; her maternal grandparents, Matthew and Carol Stevens; her aunt and uncle, Nissa Ching and Jeffrey Tonelis; her uncle and aunt, Rob and Jaime Stevens; and precious first cousins, Parker and Addie Stevens.
Lois Maret ’46, Feb. 12, 2024, Greenville, S.C.
Lois Chandler Martin ’46, Jan. 3, 2024, Arlington, Va.
Martha Mauney Johns ’47, Sept. 12, 2023, Greenville, S.C.
Carl Thackston ’48, March 10, 2024, Greenville, S.C.
Amy Braddock Curvin ’50, March 3, 2024, Okeechobee, Fla.
Patricia Maddox ’51, Jan. 11, 2024, Raleigh, N.C.
Otis Page ’51, Feb. 8, 2024, Statesboro, Ga.
Betty Parrish Farlow ’52, Nov. 9, 2023, Kernersville, N.C.
Ryan Eklund ’53, Sept. 18, 2023, Greenwood, S.C.
Virginia Dixon Fitts ’54, Oct. 13, 2023, Siler City, N.C.
Ruford Hodges ’54, Oct. 24, 2023, Birmingham, Ala.
Harold Lowder ’54, March 16, 2024, Summerville, S.C.
David Hottel ’55, Jan. 30, 2024, Piney Flats, Tenn.
James Jordan ’55, Feb. 16, 2024, Lugoff, S.C.
David Mauldin ’55, March 25, 2024, Greenville, S.C.
Joan Quick Merck ’55, Oct. 5, 2023, Buford, Ga.
Anita Heckle Baker ’56, March 17, 2024, Columbia, S.C.
Gus Pringels ’56, Oct. 19, 2023, Sumter, S.C.
Charlie Bowen ’57, Feb. 28, 2024, Hartsville, S.C.
Betty Ann Green Clanton ’57, Feb. 1, 2024, Sumter, S.C.
Becky Tapp Daniels 57, Jan. 6, 2024, Atlanta, Ga.
Albert George ’57, Jan. 13, 2024, Noblesville, Ind.
Charles Busha ’58, Feb. 3, 2024, Six Mile, S.C.
Henry Johnson ’58, March 19, 2024, Inman, S.C.
Seth Needham ’58, Feb. 6, 2024, New Bern, N.C.
Charles Prince ’58, Dec. 9, 2023, Loris, S.C.
Lula Hicks Scruggs ’58, March 10, 2024, Gaffney, S.C.
Claire Daniels Corbett ’59, Oct. 23, 2023, Lake City, S.C.
Robert Gilstrap ’59, Jan. 6, 2024, Taylors, S.C.
Louise Allen Blackwelder ’60, Dec. 15, 2023, Wingate, N.C.
Jacqueline Brown Dixon ’60, March 22, 2024, North Augusta, S.C.
Floyd Ellison ’60, Sept. 25, 2023, Greenville, S.C.
William Gibson ’60, Dec. 19, 2023, Anderson, S.C.
Robert Kerby ’60, Jan. 30, 2024, Stanley, N.C.
Marye Shelton Pond ’60, Feb. 9, 2024, Wilson, N.C.
Lawrence Babb ’61, Nov. 17, 2023, Fountain Inn, S.C.
Thomas Drake ’61, Nov. 30, 2023, Greenville, S.C.
Ann Loftis Hall ’61, Jan. 28, 2024, Clinton, S.C.
Lester Hudson ’61, March 16, 2024, Greenville, S.C.
James Purcell ’61, Jan. 5, 2024, Columbia, Md.
John Stokes ’61, Dec. 15, 2023, Jonesboro, Ark.
Harold Batson ’62, Nov. 24, 2023, Inman, S.C.
Thomas Player ’62, Jan. 9, 2024, Atlanta, Ga.
James Aiken ’63, Sept. 12, 2023, Blairsville, Ga.
Margie Allison Collins ’63, Feb. 24, 2024, Campobello, S.C.
Denver Patterson ’63, Dec. 3, 2023, Easley, S.C.
Donald Corbin ’64, Jan. 23, 2024, Greenville, S.C.
Nancy Barbour DeAngelis ’64, Oct. 29, 2023, Midlothian, Va.
David Mellichamp ’65, Sept. 12, 2023, Columbia, S.C.
Frank Plank ’65, Jan. 23, 2024, Plantation, Fla.
Shields Cochran ’66, March 26, 2024, Greenville, S.C.
Caroll Welsh Daggett ’67, Feb. 8, 2024, Charlotte, N.C.
Larry Dickson ’68, Dec. 20, 2023, Greer, S.C.
Wayne Reid ’68, Dec. 26, 2023, Atlanta, Ga.
Clayton Gompf ’69, Nov. 28, 2023, Lyman, S.C.
Susan Neves Mitchell ’69, Dec. 16, 2023, Lexington, S.C.
William Greene ’70, Jan. 23, 2024, Greenville, S.C.
Mary Raper ’70, Feb. 3, 2024, Austin, Texas
Philip Howle ’71, Jan. 3, 2024, Darlington, S.C.
Edwin Chewning ’72, Dec. 26, 2023, Clarkesville, Ga.
Martha Raney Gaddy ’72, Jan. 10, 2024, Greenville, S.C.
James Adams ’73, Nov. 29, 2023, Anderson, S.C.
Truman Copeland ’73, Jan. 3, 2024, Anderson, S.C.
Ralph Hammett ’73, March 18, 2024, Clyde, N.C.
Gerald McCown ’74, Jan. 2, 2024, Jefferson, Ga.
Charles Reece ’75, Jan. 25, 2024, Easley, S.C.
Allan Fulmer ’76, Oct. 19, 2023, Columbia, S.C.
Michael Lynch ’76, Jan. 7, 2024, Richardson, Texas
Jeanne Brandes ’78, Nov. 11, 2023, Columbus, Ohio
Barbara Rabhan ’78, Jan. 11, 2024, Greenville, S.C.
Jeffrey Fish ’79, Oct. 23, 2023, Beech Mountain, N.C.
William Kemick ’81, Oct. 12, 2023, Greenville, S.C.
William Lee ’81, Dec. 2, 2023, Atlanta, Ga.
Anita Kay Brotherton ’82, Nov. 8, 2023, Flowery Branch, Ga.
George Calomiris ’82, Feb. 14, 2024, Ocean City, Md.
Joyce Burch ’91, Feb. 8, 2024, Six Mile, S.C.
Margaret Kelly Smith ’99, March 26, 2024, Marietta, S.C.
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.