Year: 2021

William E. “Bill” West, 85, of Clemson, Professor Emeritus of Graphic Communications, died November 21, 2021.

West served the Clemson University for 36 years. In addition to being a tenured professor, he was director of Educational Services, then associate dean of Education, then acting dean of Education and finally chair of the Graphic Communications Department. He retired in 2005.

He graduated from Ohio University with a degree in industrial education. He taught high school classes and eventually became a principal. While teaching, he earned a master’s degree and Ph.D. in industrial engineering from Ohio State.

He accepted a position teaching Industrial Education at Clemson.

In addition to his wife, Sharon, survivors include his children, Lisa W. Richardson (Jeffrey) of Atlanta and Kanyon K. West (Mary) of Fort Mill; six grandchildren; and one great\- grandchild.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, January 15, 2022, in the sanctuary of Clemson United Methodist Church. The family will receive friends following the service.

West’s full obituary is posted online.

Linda “Diane” Collier, 70, of Seneca died November 17, 2021. She retired from Clemson University in 2003 after 28 years. She was a registered nurse at Redfern Health Center.

She is survived by her husband, John; daughters, Amy (Chris) Garrison and Leigh (Cain) Stinnett; five grandchildren Austin, Aidan, Hunter, Connor, and Peyton; mother, Hester (Ed) Fechtel; brother, Lamar (Linda) Fortson; and sister, Nancy Reynolds.

Due to ongoing Covid concerns, the family will be holding a celebration of life at a later date.

Collier’s full obituary is posted online.

Gordon Thomas Lee, 50, of Landrum, a meat inspector in Public Service and Agriculture, died November 20, 2021.

Lee ran Lee’s Dairy Farm with his family for most of his life. He was a graduate of Anderson College and North Carolina State University.

The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, November 26, at First Baptist Church in Landrum. The funeral will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, November 27, at the Landrum High School Gym.  Burial will be in Landrum Cemetery.

His full obituary is posted online.

Bioengineering employee Melissa McCullough died on Monday, October 18, 2021.

Clemson’s Bioengineering’s department is holding a remembrance of Melissa McCullough on December 1, from noon to 2 p.m. at the Watt Family Innovation Center. All are invited to help honor and remember McCullough’s time at Clemson. Visit this link to attend.

After McCullough’s time in the military and later as an engineering contractor, she came to Clemson University as a lab manager and a Ph.D. student.

For the past seven years, McCullough worked to prepare the next generation of engineers to be team leaders ready to engage in diverse multi-skilled team environments.

Awarded the 2017 Frank A. Burtner Award for Excellence in Advising for her work in mentoring and advising students, establishing Clemson Bionics (biology inspired engineering) and helping the Clemson LGBTQ+ community, in 2019, McCullough was among 60 U.S. service members and veterans named to the 11th class of Tillman Scholars.

McCullough’s doctoral work focused on making healthcare more accessible for broad populations. Remembered for her enthusiasm and energy she brought to all her projects and for her teaching and training, McCullough worked tirelessly to train and educate up-and-coming engineers. She helped to set up and optimize the REDDI lab facilities to facilitate large COVID-19 testing loads.

McAlister-Smith Funeral & Cremation has additional information online.

The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) has many resources to support employees during this time. Counseling services, through the EAP provider Deer Oaks, are available 24/7 by calling 1-866-327-2400.

Students who need support should be referred to Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) at 864-656-2451.

Linda D. Alexander, 56, of Seneca, died Wednesday, November 3, 2021.

Alexander retired from Clemson’s School of Agriculture, Forestry and Life Services in 2012 and had served the University for more than 21 years. A celebration of her life was held at the S.C. Botanical Garden on Sunday, November 14, 2021.

Former County Extension Agent, Senior Associate Doris Thomas Handy, 84, of Moncks Corner, S.C., died Monday, November 15, 2021.

She retired in 1992 more than 30 years of service to Clemson University.

Services were announced online by Scott’s Mortuary.

Youth Learning Institute employee Bobby Joe Lyday, 62, of Pickens, died Tuesday, November 16, 2021, at Prisma Health Greenville Memorial Hospital.

Lyday was a building and grounds manager and worked for the University for almost seven years.

Visitation will be held on Monday, November 22, 2021, from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Midway Baptist Church (1200 Midway Rd, Pickens, SC 29671). A funeral service will be held on Monday, November 22, 2021, at 11 a.m. at the same location.

Arrangements were announced online by Mountain View Funeral Home.

Bill Maker, Professor Emeritus of Philosophy and Religion, died November 10, 2021. Maker retired in 2017 after 38 years of service.

No arrangements have been made at this time.

John Syme, 96, alumnus and Professor Emeritus of Forest Resources, died October 30, 2021.

He was a graduate of Oregon State and earned his Ph.D. at Clemson University.

His professional career consisted of nearly 30 years in the wood products industry and upon retiring from that he joined the Department of Forestry at Clemson. He retired from Clemson in 1998.

Surviving is his wife, Gloria Small Syme; daughters Sheryl Leitner of Chattanooga, Tennessee, and Marilee Syme of Vancouver, Washington; sister Jeanne Hall of Salt Lake City, Utah, and several nieces and nephews.

Syme’s full obituary is posted online.

Retiree Brenda Joyce Wood Peebles, 77, of Seneca died October 28, 2021.

Peebles was human resources manager in Clemson Libraries from 2001 to 2009, when she retired. She returned part time in 2010 and also worked in University Facilities until 2015. She had retired from Duke Energy after 30 years before coming to Clemson.

In addition to her husband of 40 years, Wallace, she is survived by her daughter, Amy Clare Peebles.

A funeral service will be held 2 p.m., Tuesday, November 2, at Trinity Baptist Church with the family receiving friends and family from 1 to 2 p.m. prior to the service.

Her full obituary is posted online.