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Gordon W. Blackwell
Gordon Williams Blackwell of Raleigh died Jan. 26, 2004. He was 92.
Born in Timmonsville, S.C., he earned degrees from Furman University, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and a doctorate at Harvard University.
He also received seven honorary degrees.
He was a faculty member at Furman University from 1937 until 1941 and at UNC from 1941 until 1957, rising to the rank of Kenan professor.
He served as chancellor of the Women’s College (UNC-Greensboro) from 1957 until 1960; president of Florida State University from 1960 until 1965, president of Furman University from 1965 until 1976 and as an educational consultant since 1976.
He received the Distinguished Leadership Award-South Carolina Foundation of Independent Colleges in 1991 and the Algernon Sidney Sullivan Award-Furman University in 1993.
He was a trustee of Eckerd College since its founding in 1954.
A memorial service was conducted Friday at Daniel Chapel on the campus of Furman University.
Private interment was be in Springwood cemetery.
Survivors include his wife, Jean Hollingsworth Blackwell of the home; two daughters, Blair Cooper of Florence, S.C., and Millie Yarborough of Greenville, S.C.; two sons, Gordon L. Blackwell of Raleigh and Randy W. Blackwell of Greenville; 12 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to Furman University Library Atrium or Blackwell-Rice Scholarship Program, c/o Furman University, 3300 Poinsett Highway, Greenville, SC 29613.
Arrangements are by Thomas McAfee Funeral Home of Raleigh.
Emily Frances Busby
Emily Frances Fish Busby of Carrboro died Jan. 26, 2004 at home.
She was 77.
A native of Salisbury, she was a graduate of Boyden High School in Salisbury.
She lived most of her adult life in Charlotte, retiring several years ago from First Union Bank and Coffey and Thompson Art Gallery.
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Thursday in St. Thomas More Catholic Church with the Rev. John Durbin presiding.
Graveside rites were conducted Friday in Sharon Memorial Park in Charlotte.
Survivors include a son, Walker Hall Busby Jr. of Carrboro; a brother, John R. Fish Jr. of Colorado Springs, Colo.; two sisters, Peggy Fish Yahas of South Bend, Ind., and Barbara Fish Swift of Granger, Ind.; and two granddaughters.
Memorial contributions may be made to Food for the Poor, 550 SW 12th Ave., Deerfield Beach, Fla. 33442-3188 or to the Boys and Girls Homes of North Carolina Inc. P.O. Box 127 Lake Waccamaw, N.C. 28450.
Arrangements are by Hall-Wynne Funeral Service.
Bronson P. Clark
Bronson P. Clark of Carrboro died Jan. 24, 2004.
He was 85.
Born in Aurora, Ohio, he graduated from Antioch College.
Through his work with the Fellowship of Reconciliation he became a conscientious objector in World War II and was imprisoned for his beliefs.
He joined the American Friends Service Committee Ambulance Unit in China, where he worked until the end of the war.
He lived in Oberlin, Ohio, until 1961 when he left his public housing building company to serve with the AFSC in Morocco and Algeria assisting refugees fleeing the Algerian War.
He returned from Africa and became vice president of Gilford Instrument Laboratories, which developed biomedical instruments for hospitals and research use.
During the Vietname War he served as executive secretary of AFSC, speaking and traveling extensively against the war.
During that period he was elected to the Council on Foreign Affairs and chronicled his experiences in the memoir, “Not By Might.”
His life will be remembered July at the Midcoast Friends Meeting in Damariscotta, Maine.
Survivors include his wife, Harriet Warner; four daughters, Mallory Waldman of Franklin, Mich., Jennifer Clark of Suffern, N.Y., Melissa Scheffey of Bolton, Conn., and Alison Stephens of Titusville, N.J.; three step-children and 16 grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be sent to the American Friends Service Committee, 1501 Cherry St., Philadelphia, PA 19102-1479.
Willie A. Gates
Willie A. Gates of Chapel Hill died Jan. 28, 2004 at UNC Hospitals after an extended illness.
He was 77.
A life-long resident of Chapel Hill, he was a veteran of World War II, serving in the U.S. 3rd Army under Gen. George Patton.
He was a carpenter and construction superintendent in the Triangle for more than 50 years.
Funeral services were conducted Saturday at Walker’s Chapel followed by a graveside service at Bethel Baptist Church.
Survivors include his wife, Rosa Helen Brockwell Gates; a daughter, Cindy Hicks; three sons, Ronnie Gates, Kent Gates and Billy Gates; a sister, Beatrice Flowers of Welcome; 12 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Heath Scott Neville
Heath Scott Neville of Chapel Hill died Jan. 29, 2004 at UNC Hospitals.
He was one-day old.
A private graveside service will be held at 2 p.m. today at Antioch Baptist Church by the Rev. Michael Mustain.
Survivors include his parents, Mary Beth and Bryant Neville; a sister, Holly, and a brother, Hunter, of the home; paternal grandparents Bryant and Sandra Neville of Chapel Hill; maternal grandparents Billy Wayne and Bonnie Andrews of Chapel Hill; paternal great-grandmother Ann Fry of Pinehurst; and maternal great-grandmother Minnie Dixon of Chapel Hill.
Arrangements are with Walker’s Funeral Home.
