In Memoriam

Alumni


1940s

  • Mary Draper ’46 of Seaboard, N.C., on Nov. 24, 2023.
  • Naomi Brown Edwards ’47 of Greenville, N.C., on Sept. 30, 2023.
  • Gwendolyn Ward Phelps ’44 of Colerain, N.C., on Dec. 18, 2023.

1950s

  • Ann Elizabeth McKay Arnold ’59 of Harrisonburg, Va., on July 31, 2023.
  • Grady Bailey ’54 ’58 ’68 of Newland, N.C., on Sept. 25, 2023.
  • Austin Britt ’53 of Greenville, N.C., on Feb. 15, 2024.
  • Carolyn Daughtrey ’53 of Greenville, N.C., on Oct. 17, 2023.
  • Charles E. Fishel ’54 ’58 of Virginia Beach, Va., on Dec. 15, 2023.
  • Barbara L. Fisher ’58 of Winston-Salem, N.C., on Oct. 27, 2023.
  • Robert Forrest ‘57 of Greensboro, N.C., on Jan. 29, 2024.
  • Polly K. Galloway ’52 ’72 ‘77 of Farmville, N.C., on Aug. 14, 2023.
  • William T. “Ted” Gartman ’58 ’65 of Greenville, N.C., on Sept. 7, 2023.
  • Unita P. Hayden ’56 of Greensboro, N.C., on Nov. 6, 2023.
  • Harold S. Hobbs ’59 of Clinton, N.C., on Jan. 22, 2024.
  • Sarah “Salley” Howard ’58 of Wilbraham, Mass., on Dec. 1, 2023.
  • Frances B. Jones ’53 ’63 of Plymouth, N.C., on Nov. 28, 2023.
  • Ruth H. Joyner ’54 ’63 of Weldon, N.C., on Nov. 18, 2023.
  • Walter Travis Martin Jr. ’55 ’61 of Williamston, N.C., on Sept. 18, 2023.
  • William P. McArthur ’58 of Fayetteville, N.C., on Feb. 23, 2024.
  • Marshall A. McLamb ’56 ’57 of Lexington, N.C., on Oct. 30, 2023.
  • Jean C. Owens ’57 ’90 of Tarboro, N.C., on Dec. 10, 2023.
  • James D. Page ’56 ’61 of Chesapeake, Va., on Dec. 25, 2023.
  • Fan G. Panton ’57 of Suffolk, Va., on Jan. 21, 2024.
  • Loyce C. Phillips ’52 of Warsaw, N.C., on Oct. 17, 2023.
  • William E. Phillips Jr. ’56 of Greensboro, N.C., on Jan. 8, 2024.
  • Junius H. Rose Jr. ’51 of Kinston, N.C., on Oct. 12, 2023.
  • Josephine B. Sears ’56 of Apex, N.C., on Sept. 17, 2023.
  • Roger C. Spivey ’59 of Hobbsville, N.C., on Dec. 3, 2023.
  • Gennette Tenney ’59 of Hamilton, Ga., on Jan. 14, 2024.
  • Margaret L. Thompson ’51 of Durham, N.C., on Jan. 2, 2024.
  • John D. Tyler ’58 of Four Oaks, N.C., on Sept. 17, 2023.
  • Patricia Q. Tyndall ’59 of Asheville, N.C., on Jan. 26, 2024.
  • Eugene M. Ward ’56 of Wadesboro, N.C., on Jan. 25, 2024.
  • Jean Weathers ’55 of Concord, N.C., on Jan. 11, 2024.
  • Margaret W. “Peggy” Dudley ’53 of Edenton, N.C., on Feb. 25, 2024.

1960s

  • Silas H. Abernathy ’63 of Fuquay-Varina, N.C., on Nov. 19, 2023.
  • Arthur M. Bailey ’64 of Gastonia, N.C., on Feb. 28, 2024.
  • Michael S. Baker ’67 ’75 of Bath, N.C., on Sept. 5, 2023.
  • Gail R. Barnes ’60 of Morehead City, N.C., on Nov. 21, 2023.
  • Sandra M. Beach ’62 of Williamston, N.C., on Nov. 22, 2023.
  • Cynthia Parker Bryant ’61 of Asheville, N.C., on Dec. 22, 2023.
  • Bobby G. Bumgardner ’66 of Hickory, N.C., on, Jan. 28, 2024.
  • Karly Burns ’68 of Tierra Verde, Fla., on Dec. 18, 2023.
  • Sandra C. Grady ’63 ’71 of Cary, N.C., on Dec. 14, 2023.
  • Richard S. Cox ’60 of North Myrtle Beach, N.C., on Oct. 8, 2023.
  • Carl L. Craft ’63 of Pine Harbor, Ga., on Dec. 17, 2023.
  • Joel Cyganiewicz ’68 of Burnside, Ky., on Aug. 27, 2023.
  • John T. Dillard ’69 of Winston-Salem, N.C., on Sept. 10, 2023.
  • Brenda Fairless Edwards ’67 of Greenville, N.C., on Dec. 23, 2023.
  • Robert J. Ehrmann ’66 ’74 of Greenville, N.C., on Aug. 8, 2023.
  • Mary C. Fisher ’65 of McLean, Va., on Dec. 13, 2023.
  • Harold Frazier ’65 of Henderson, N.C., on Oct. 25, 2023.
  • Barry Giddings ’67 of Mount Olive, N.C., on Dec. 14, 2023.
  • Frank E. Grayiel III ’61 of Tarboro, N.C., on Dec. 17, 2023.
  • John R. “Randy” Gresham ’68 of Fayetteville, N.C., on Sept. 10, 2023.
  • John Griffith ’63 ’71 of Roanoke, Va., on Sept. 23, 2023.
  • Mary Hamblen ’62 of Greenville, N.C., on Dec. 23, 2023.
  • Selba M. Harris ’64 of Jefferson, Ga., on Feb. 20, 2024.
  • Mary W. Hawkins ’60 of Jacksonville, N.C., on Sept. 14, 2023.
  • Elizabeth V. Huneycutt ’65 of Morehead City, N.C., on Oct. 24, 2023.
  • Roy A. Hyle II ’64 ’66 of Boone, N.C., on Dec. 20, 2023.
  • James W. “Bill” Jones ’64 of Lillington, N.C., on Feb. 17, 2024.
  • Bonnie T. Kane ’66 ’94 of Rocky Mount, N.C., on Jan. 31, 2024.
  • John LaCava ’63 of Bath, N.C., on Nov. 19, 2023.
  • Lawrence Lewis Jr. ’69 ’77 of Farmville, N.C., on Nov. 25, 2023.
  • John “Jack” McCann ’60 of Morehead City, N.C., on Dec. 11, 2022.
  • Ted McGee Jr. ’61 of West Columbia, S.C., on Oct. 18, 2023.
  • Myra T. McLawhorn ’62 of Greenville, N.C., on Sept. 18, 2023.
  • Timothy C. Ogburn. ’65 of Fort Mill, S.C., on Nov. 24, 2023.
  • Charles L. Paul ’65 of Warrenton, Va., on Aug. 3, 2023.
  • Charles O. Pulley ’63 ’65 of Clayton, N.C., on Dec. 17, 2023.
  • Stephen D. Saunders ’67 of Roxboro, N.C., on Nov. 24, 2023.
  • Clara Alphin Smith ’60 of Mount Olive, N.C., on Dec. 22, 2023.
  • Donald A. Stewart ’67 of Winston-Salem, N.C., on Jan. 13, 2024.
  • Cecil Stroud ’68 of Spring Hope, N.C., on Jan. 24, 2024.
  • Charles Swain ’68 of Interlachen, Fla., on Aug. 30, 2023.
  • Jean A. Taylor ’61 of Wilmington, N.C., on Oct. 23, 2023.
  • Orzo S. Thigpen Jr. ’66 of Surf City, N.C., on Jan. 17, 2024.
  • William Wallace ’60 of Morehead City, N.C., on Nov. 27, 2023.
  • J. Randy Walters ’68 of Farmville, N.C., on Nov. 15, 2023.
  • Edith D. Warren ’60 ’73 of Farmville, N.C., on Nov. 11, 2023.
  • Clarence J. Weeks Jr. ’69 of Goldsboro, N.C., on Dec. 7, 2023.
  • William R. “Ray” White ’66 of Nags Head, N.C., on Feb. 28, 2024.
  • Shelton Whitehurst ’65 ’78 of Tarboro, N.C., on Nov. 24, 2023.
  • Delores G. Woodward ’62 of Belhaven, N.C., on Jan. 20, 2024.
  • James Woolverton ’69 of Denton, Texas, on Feb. 3, 2024.

1970s

  • Collette D. Ashiru ’85 of North Chesterfield, Va., on Dec. 1, 2023.
  • Elaine Byassee Bailey ’74 of Columbus, N.C, on Aug. 8, 2023.
  • Christine M. Beaman ’75 ’76 of Charlotte, N.C., on Oct. 16, 2023.
  • Meredith D. Betts ’75 of Milford, Del., on Nov. 28, 2023.
  • Wanda H. Boone ’74 of Randleman, N.C., on Dec. 6, 2023.
  • Bonye Broady Bowman ’73 of Conover, N.C., on Sept. 23, 2023.
  • Donald J. Christian ’76 of Sunset Beach, N.C., on Oct. 21, 2023.
  • Janice L. Clontz ’78 of Pine Knoll Shores, N.C., on Jan. 17, 2024.
  • Deborah J. Conklin ’72 ’73 of Greenville, N.C., on April 7, 2023.
  • Rebecca K. Crosier ’76 ’80 ’08 of Farmville, N.C., on Feb. 21, 2024.
  • Joanna Dempsey ’74 of Sanford, N.C., on Feb. 24, 2024.
  • James G. “Greg” Dickens ’77 of Charlotte, N.C., on Dec. 14, 2023.
  • Richard B. Dupree ’74 ’76 of Atlantic Beach, N.C., on Oct. 30, 2023.
  • Frances P. Ellis ’71 of Wilmington, N.C., on Jan. 8, 2024.
  • Kelly A. “KG” Gwin III ’74 of Charlotte, N.C., on Jan. 10, 2024.
  • Terry Linwood Hartley ’79 ’88 of Goldsboro, N.C., on July 29, 2023.
  • Gilbert Hensgen ’77 of Raleigh, N.C., on Jan. 23, 2024.
  • Nancy Howell-Streeter ’73 of Shepherdstown, W.Va., on Aug. 29, 2023.
  • Hannah W. Jones ’76 of Greenville, N.C., on Feb. 27, 2024.
  • Carlton E. Kimbro Jr. ’72 of Wilmington, N.C., on Dec. 19, 2023.
  • Virginia “Ginny” Kubiak ’74 of Berlin, Md., on Oct. 9, 2023.
  • Allen G. Lewitz ’75 of San Antonio, Texas, on July 12, 2023.
  • Barbara V. Lingerfelt ’73 of Morganton, N.C., on Dec. 9, 2023.
  • Thomas E. Maron ’75 of Crystal River, Fla., on Aug. 14, 2023.
  • John W. Maye Jr. ’76 ’78 of Charlotte, N.C., on Dec. 8, 2023.
  • Teresa H. Miller ’76 of Farmville, N.C., on Jan. 17, 2024.
  • James M. Morgan ’78 of Greenville, N.C., on Aug. 25, 2023.
  • Nancy Morris ’77 of Valdosta, Ga., on March 1, 2024.
  • John H. Newsome ’78 of Ahoskie, N.C., on Feb. 14, 2024.
  • Dolores D. Norris ’71 of Myrtle Beach, S.C. on Feb. 18, 2024.
  • Donald Hugh Orr ’74 of Fayetteville, N.C., on Sept. 20, 2023.
  • Donnie Ray Prevatte ’72 of Wilmington, N.C., on Dec. 17, 2023.
  • Rebecca B. Roberts ’72 ’75 of Murrells Inlet, S.C., on Nov. 22, 2023.
  • Deborah Sherrill ’72 of Raleigh, N.C., on Jan. 16, 2024.
  • JoAnn Rozier Smith ’76 of Fayetteville, N.C., on Sept. 23, 2023.
  • Jo Ann T. Smith ’74 ’91 of Jacksonville, N.C., on Jan. 24, 2024.
  • Angela H. Whitfield ’79 of Smithfield, N.C., on Feb. 21, 2024.
  • James G. Wood Jr. ’65 of Sanford, N.C., on Feb. 27, 2024.
  • George T. “Ted” Worthington ’76 of Ayden, N.C., Sept. 19, 2023.

1980s

  • Joseph J. Abney ’84 of Rougemont, N.C., on Nov. 11, 2023.
  • Cynthia O. Acree ’81 of Goldsboro, N.C., on Jan. 11, 2024.
  • Sharon Antoszyk ’85 of Concord, N.C., on Feb. 17, 2024.
  • Karen June Bell ’83 of Seven Devils, N.C., on Aug. 8, 2023.
  • Aleta S. Cox ’85 of Engelhard, N.C., on Dec. 6, 2023.
  • Helen Cummings ’83 of Morehead City, N.C., on Sept. 25, 2023.
  • Barbara Berardino Newman ’81 of Palm Coast, Fla., on July 27, 2023.
  • Lyman M. “Buddy” Black Jr. ’81 of Franklin, Tenn., on Aug. 1, 2023.
  • Steven Douglas Daniels ’81 of Windsor, N.C., on Aug. 25, 2023.
  • Dennis Donaldson ’84 of Grifton, N.C., on Sept. 23, 2023.
  • Ward C. Douglas ’88 of Hampton, Va., on Dec. 3, 2023.
  • Nadine C. Dunn ’84 of Findlay, Ohio, on Sept. 28, 2023.
  • Nina F. Giles ’83 of Statesboro, Ga., on Sept. 18, 2023.
  • George Harriss Jr. ’84 of Wilmington, N.C., on Dec. 20, 2023.
  • Lisa M. Hitt ’82 of Atlanta, Ga., on Feb. 20, 2024.
  • Gregory Hobbs ’82 of Raleigh, N.C., on Oct. 20, 2023.
  • Sylvia C. Matthews ’81 of Oxford, N.C., on Nov. 25, 2023.
  • Janice Morrison ’88 ’91 of Fleming Island, Fla., on Sept. 30, 2023.
  • Kathleen Hague Phillips ’86 of Lasker, N.C., on Aug. 7, 2023.
  • Danny S. Safrit ’82 of Colfax, N.C., on Oct. 18, 2023.
  • Julie Schweers ’89 of Sarasota, Fla., on Dec. 5, 2023.
  • Stephen A. Scroggs ’80 of Chapel Hill, N.C., on Jan. 3, 2023.
  • Bruce Sherrod ’84 of Shelbyville, Ky., on Nov. 8, 2023.
  • Kurt O. Svendsen ’80 of Jacksonville, N.C., on Nov. 28, 2023.
  • Pamela H. Uhlman ’85 of Hobe Sound, Fla., on Feb. 15, 2024.
  • Robert C. Voigt ’80 ’95 of Wake Forest, N.C., on Oct. 22, 2023.
  • Jeffrey A. Wagstaff ’81 of Erwin, N.C., on Dec. 28, 2023.

1990s

  • Charles Ashcraft ’97 of Fayetteville, N.C., on Jan. 27, 2024.
  • Halcey W. “Webb” Brown III of Richmond, Va., on Jan. 12, 2024.
  • Christie Dawson ’92 of Wilson, N.C., on Sept. 14, 2023.
  • John A. Felton ’90 of Ann Arbor, Mich., on Sept. 7, 2023.
  • Lynn V. Griffin ’91 of Greenville, N.C., on Nov. 18, 2023.
  • Jane Whitley Jerdan ’92 of Cape Coral, Fla., on Sept. 2, 2023.
  • Bonnie T. Kane ’94 of Rocky Mount, N.C., on Jan. 31, 2024.
  • Robert D. Long ’96 of Raleigh, N.C., on Nov. 30, 2023.
  • Katherine Weeks Lusch ’91 of Mooresville, N.C., on Feb. 14, 2024.
  • Jason L. Martin ’91 of Goldsboro, N.C., on Dec. 16, 2023.
  • Julian F. Pierce III ’97 of Greenville, N.C., on Nov. 24, 2023.
  • Shane Pongpairoj ’96 of Greenville, N.C., on Jan. 24, 2024.
  • Nikki N. Powell ’95 of Pittsboro, N.C., on Nov. 10, 2023.
  • Christopher C. Steele ’93 of Winston-Salem N.C., on July 24, 2023.
  • Jennifer G. Thomas ’92 ’98 of Williamston, N.C., on Sept. 30, 2023.
  • Larry N. Yopp Jr. ’97 of Goldsboro, N.C., on Dec. 2, 2023.

2000s

  • Karl D. Bayne ’01 of District Heights, Md., on Feb. 13, 2024.
  • Roger Conner Jr. ’07 of Greenville, N.C., on Dec. 22, 2023.
  • Julie Grgurevic ’04 of Wilmington, N.C., on Dec. 10, 2023.
  • Matthew Duncan ’08 of Raleigh, N.C., on Jan. 29, 2024.
  • Joslyn B. Hawkins ’01 of Kenly, N.C., on Feb. 19, 2024.
  • Roger McMurray ’00 ’03 ’08 of Greenville, N.C., on Dec. 17, 2023.
  • Trina Pruitt ’04 of New Bern, N.C., on Aug. 12, 2023.
  • Danielle S. Richichi ’09 of Wilmington, N.C., on Sept. 19, 2023.
  • Gwendolyn L. Riddick ’04 of Eden. N.C., on July 30, 2023.
  • Laura M. Rumbley ’08 of Jacksonville, N.C., on Aug. 22, 2023.
  • M. Carlton Satterwhite III ’07 ’14 of Wake Forest, N.C., on Dec. 21, 2023.
  • Allison M. Sunderman ’03 of Wilson, N.C., on Oct. 28, 2023.
  • Hugh S. Thrower ’01 of Goldsboro, N.C., on Nov. 25, 2023.
  • Wayne Christopher Umfleet ’00 of Bath, N.C., on Nov. 25, 2023.

2010s

  • Pierre Benoit Samson ’15 of Wilson, N.C., on Sept. 22, 2023.
  • Mary C. Fannon ’18 of Alexandria, Va., on Oct. 30, 2023.
  • Gregory D. Pearsall ’18 of Greenville, N.C., on Feb. 17, 2024.
  • Timothy J. Pedro ’11 of Greenville, N.C., on Dec. 14, 2023.

Faculty/Staff

  • Art Baker (athletics) of Sumter, S.C., on Jan. 13, 2024.
  • Gwendolyn Bibbs (diving and water safety) of Greenville, N.C., on Sept. 29, 2023.
  • Forrest Croce (university comm.) of Greenville, N.C., on Aug. 27, 2023.
  • Henry Downs (facilities) of Winterville, N.C., on Jan. 24, 2024.
  • Charles Duckett (medicine) of Winston-Salem, N.C., on Dec. 25, 2023.
  • Gerry Gable (facilities svcs.) of Greenville, N.C., on Oct. 19, 2023.
  • Keith Holmes ’68 (chemistry) of Greenville, N.C., on Dec. 24, 2023.
  • Joseph Kalinowski (allied health) of Greenville, N.C., on Jan. 12, 2024.
  • Ulf Karlsson (radiation oncology) of Pine Knoll Shores, N.C., on Nov. 30, 2023.
  • Hervy B. Kornegay (medicine) of Calypso, N.C., on Feb. 15, 2024.
  • Nancy M. Loessin (theatre) of Norfolk, Va., on Jan. 20, 2024.
  • Harold J. “Hal” May (psychology) of Greenville, N.C., on Nov. 16, 2023.
  • Fran McKinney (Laupus Library) of Greenville, N.C, on July 21, 2023.
  • Susan O’Bierne (parking svcs.) of Greenville, N.C., on Sept. 4, 2023.
  • Max C. Poole (anatomy and cell biology) of Wesley Chapel, Fla., on Nov. 22, 2023.
  • Richard Schultz (education) of Gainesville, Fla., on Jan. 20, 2024.
  • John Wall (business) of Greenville, N.C., on Feb. 8, 2023.
  • Peggy Wood (health info. mgmt.) of Greenville, N.C., on Feb. 5, 2024.
  • Wallace Wooles (pharmacology) of Greenville, N.C., on Feb. 22, 2024.

Friends

Nancy Gray, the first editor of East, died Dec. 14, 2023, at her home in Greenville. She was 66. Gray edited the newsletter ECU Report, the precursor to East. In 2002, she led the publication of the new magazine. “Recognizing ECU’s growth in size and stature, we needed to make the transition from this smaller publication to a full-scale university magazine,” said Clint Bailey, who at the time was ECU’s director of marketing, which produced the magazine. “Once we got the go ahead to make the change, Nancy was the natural choice to serve as the first and founding editor of East magazine.” Gray’s husband, Stephen, was the longtime director of disability support services at ECU. He retired in December.
Jesse Peel, a longtime donor, friend and mentor to students and staff members and an advocate for the LGBTQ+ community, died Dec. 28, 2023, in Atlanta. He was 83. At ECU, Peel served on advisory boards and advancement councils, was a volunteer and was a catalyst of philanthropy focused on student success. His early gifts provided more than $100,000 in funding for scholarships, student success and campus programs. A combination of gifts planned through his estate will provide nearly $2 million in funding across multiple campus priorities. Additional gifts – valued at more than $1 million – from his estate are expected in future years to support the work of the College of Education’s Rural Education Institute. Peel’s support and dedication to ECU were recognized in 2009 when he was presented an honorary ECU alumni award. He received the Student Affairs Vice Chancellor’s Advocacy Award in 2017.
Marie Williams ’53 and her late husband, Walter ’51 ’55, are known at ECU for their loyalty, dedication and devotion to each other and to their alma mater. Marie Williams died June 4 at age 93. The Williamses were champions of ECU and gave more than $6 million to the university. Numerous buildings and spaces bear their names: Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum, the Williams Jungle at Clark-LeClair Stadium, the Williams-Harvey Teams Building and the Smith-Williams Center. They also established the Walter and Marie Williams Endowment for scholarships in the College of Health and Human Performance and two endowments that provide scholarships to support basketball players. At sporting events, they would be among the last to leave a game because they wanted to give the coach a word of encouragement and hug the players and acknowledge their efforts. In 2014, the couple established an endowment to fund the STEPP program, aimed at supporting students with learning disabilities. Marie served on the advancement board and other committees in the College of Education and was a longtime volunteer in the community. In 2000, she received the ECU Alumni Association President’s Award for Lifetime Distinguished Service.

A Personal Note

I’ve been reading obituaries and compiling memorials for East for the better part of 10 years. I knew if I stuck with it long enough eventually I’d have to include my mom on the page. Then when my brother-in-law was diagnosed with lung cancer, I knew one day I’d have to type his name, too.

That issue of East is here. And not just for my mom, Mary H. Boyd ’55, but also for my brother-in-law, Mike Conner ’76 ’82.

Mom and Mike shared a connection: One year on the first day of school at Windsor Elementary, she called roll in her sixth-grade class, and Mike answered. Years later, she enjoyed saying if she had known he would grow up to marry her daughter, she never would have promoted him.

At ECU, Mike got a degree in history and a master’s in education, but never worked as a teacher. Instead he retired a few years ago after a career as a chemist with R.J. Reynolds.

Mom taught me the “Hey, hey, E.C.” cheer when I was young. Mike was a longtime Pirate Club member, and he and my sister Debbie ’81 frequently spent the night with Mom in Williamston after ECU football games.

Mom was 90. She had broken her hip – for the second time – in January, so we knew the end was near. Mike was 69 and deserved better than to have cancer rage through his body.

Mom died Jan. 27, and on Feb. 17, Mike drew his last breath at home in Clemmons. Both had positive influences far beyond what they realized.

– Doug Boyd