Category: Obituaries

Clemson University mourns the death of Melvin Dwight Hartley, systems engineer for CCIT’s Medicaid IT Services (MITS) team.

“Dwight was a brilliant mentor and friend,” said Lee Currington, senior director with Institutional Excellence. “Dwight was literally the cornerstone of my career. He believed in me and saw something I didn’t see in myself. He took a young girl with a newly earned Biology degree and tutored me to become a systems engineer. I am eternally grateful for the wisdom, humility, unwavering friendship, and humor he always shared. He will be truly missed.”

“Dwight and I worked together at three different companies,” said Don Parrott, MITS systems administrator. “He had a wide range of expertise in current IBM disk and tape architecture, but was also a veteran ham operator and was part of the South Carolina State Guard. In all the years working with him he was always helpful and courteous in any situation – willing to help anyone. He would go beyond the call of duty to help others. He shared the story many times how the Lord guided his steps during the Vietnam War. We had many great times working together which included multi-day disaster recovery drills and going to ‘hamfests’ together. He was always concerned for his family and our nation. He was confident in his Creator’s promises of life eternal and he trusted in them. He will be sorely missed.”

Hartley began his Clemson career on May 2, 2016, totaling nearly nine years of service with the University.

Dwight Hartley’s obituary is available online. The family will receive friends from 12-1:45 p.m. on Friday, April 11, at Gray Mortuary in Pelzer, with the funeral service following at 2 p.m. in the mortuary chapel.

Clemson University mourns the death of Dale Morris, adjunct faculty teaching in the Master of Resilient Urban Design program at the Clemson Design Center in Charleston.

“Dale Morris will be deeply missed for his significant impact on resiliency thinking and how Charleston could live with water for a sustainable future,” said Bradford Watson, director of the Clemson Architecture Center Charleston and Master of Resilient Urban Design program. “His enthusiasm and passion for climate resiliency was inspiring, and we at the Clemson Design Center greatly benefited from his generosity of time and support for our students and programs. We will continue to see the impact of his knowledge and efforts through the planning implemented with the city and the future work of students that he inspired.”

“We were very fortunate to know and work with Dale Morris at the Clemson Design Center in Charleston,” said David Pastre, director of the Clemson Design Center Charleston. “Dale was always available to join classes and reviews when asked as the city of Charleston’s Chief Resilience Officer and we were thrilled when he joined the faculty this year. His unique ability to inspire our community, and our students was rooted in his genuine love of the Lowcountry and concern for its future. He will be greatly missed.”

Morris began his Clemson career on January 1, 2025. Morris, the former chief resilience officer for the city of Charleston from 2021-24, enjoyed an extensive career in policy and design working with low-lying urban areas combat flooding and manage water more effectively. A Post & Courier article about Morris is available for free with registration as well.

Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) is providing grief counseling to students. Any student who wants to speak to a counselor should contact CAPS at 864-656-2451. After-hours counseling is available by calling 864-656-2451 and selecting option 2 from the menu.

Counseling services are also available to faculty and staff through ComPsych, the University’s Employee Assistance Program provider, at 866-365-0813.

Clemson University Obituaries

Obituaries for active employees, retirees and current students are issued by Inside Clemson once we are able to confirm the information. Since faculty and staff live and work throughout the state, we depend on university departments, colleagues or friends to notify us of the deaths of active employees and retirees.

James Wayne Patterson, Clemson University Professor Emeritus of Management, passed away on March 27, 2025.

He began his Clemson career on August 23, 1976, and retired on February 27, 2008, returning to temporary work for two years and joining the Emeritus College on July 23, 2015. In total, Patterson totaled more than 33 years of employment service with the University.

He earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Business Statistics from the University of Alabama, and a Ph.D. in Business Administration from the University of Arkansas.

His obituary is available online. A visitation will be held on April 12, 2025, at 10 a.m. at First Baptist Church of Pendleton. A memorial service will follow visitation in the church starting at 11 a.m.

Clarence Dean Rogers, Swetenburg Professor Emeritus of Materials Science and Engineering, of Clemson, passed away peacefully March 21, 2025.

Rogers began his Clemson career on October 23, 1981, and retired on May 15, 2005. He joined the Emeritus College on April 15, 2015, totaling 24 years of teaching service and nearly 10 years with the Emeritus College.

Rogers earned his Ph.D. from Clemson University and received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from North Carolina State University.

A visitation will be held on Friday, March 28, 2025, from 2-4 p.m. at Duckett-Robinson Funeral Home.

His obituary is available online.

Clemson University mourns the death of Martin J. Levins, operations manager for the Brook T. Smith Launchpad.

“Martin was our Irish Gentle Giant at the Launchpad,” said John Hannon, founding director of the Brook T. Smith Launchpad. “He exemplified so many attributes of a great Clemson employee. Among others, he was always welcoming, cheerful, nurturing, and exacting. We were fortunate to have his irreplaceable help laying a foundation for the Launchpad, a foundation that will endure for forever. Our team was blessed to have Martin as a colleague and friend. He is, and always will be, missed.”

Levins began his Clemson career on January 2, 2024.

Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) is providing grief counseling to students. Any student who wants to speak to a counselor should contact CAPS at 864-656-2451. After-hours counseling is available by calling 864-656-2451 and selecting option 2 from the menu.

Counseling services are also available to faculty and staff through ComPsych, the University’s Employee Assistance Program provider, at 866-365-0813.

More information will be shared when available.

Clemson University Obituaries

Obituaries for active employees, retirees and current students are issued by Inside Clemson once we are able to confirm the information. Since faculty and staff live and work throughout the state, we depend on university departments, colleagues or friends to notify us of the deaths of active employees and retirees.

Clemson University mourns the death of Nancy F. Dawsey, administrative coordinator and trainer for the Horry County Extension Service. 

“Nancy was kind caring and dedicated,” said Michael McManus, Pee Dee district director. “She did what was needed to support staff and take care of clientele. She was very organized and took pride in doing her job well. She will be missed.”

Dawsey began her Clemson career on September 28, 2001, totaling more than 23 years of service with the University.

Counseling services are available to faculty and staff through ComPsych, the University’s Employee Assistance Program provider, at 866-365-0813.

Her obituary is available online. The family will receive friends at Berea Baptist Church in Galivants Ferry, S.C., on February 26, 2025 from 3-4 p.m. A funeral service will follow at the church beginning at 4 p.m.

Clemson University Obituaries

Obituaries for active employees, retirees and current students are issued by Inside Clemson once we are able to confirm the information. Since faculty and staff live and work throughout the state, we depend on university departments, colleagues or friends to notify us of the deaths of active employees and retirees.

Beulah “Boo” Rives Cheney Wilson, retired associate director of publications and graphics for University Relations, passed away on January 15, 2025.

Wilson began her Clemson career on July 17, 1972, and retired on September 5, 1985, totaling 13 years of service with the University.

A memorial service will be held at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Clemson on Saturday, March 1, 2025 at 2 p.m.

Her obituary is available online.

Marcella K. Jordan, retired administrative assistant for Public Affairs, passed away on February 14, 2025.

She began her Clemson career on August 12, 1974, and retired on March 29, 2002, totaling more than 27 years of service with the University.

Services will be held on Friday, February 21 at Duckett-Robinson Funeral Home, 108 Cross Creek Rd, Central, S.C. The family will receive friends from 1-1:45 p.m., and the service will begin at 2 p.m.

Marcella Jordan’s obituary is available online.

Tony H. “Ploony” Craig, retired engineer with University Facilities campus planning, passed away on February 9, 2025.

Craig began his Clemson career on February 7, 1972, and retired on January 4, 2005, totaling nearly 33 years of service with the University.

A private graveside service will be held at Mt. Zion Cemetery, Central, S.C.

Tony Craig’s obituary is available online.

Thomas Barrett, retired trades specialist with agriculture and biological engineering, passed away on February 8, 2025.

Barrett began his Clemson career on August 19, 1985, and retired on September 16, 2010, totaling more than 25 years of service with the University.

His online obituary will be shared when available.