Category: Obituaries

Leonard Joseph “Skip” Spooner, 80, of Greenville, South Carolina, passed away peacefully on Friday, June 19, 2026.

Spooner joined Clemson University as a faculty member in the Management program on August 15, 2011, after retiring from his law practice. During his time in the management program at The Wilbur O. and Ann Powers College of Business, Spooner’s real-world experience was essential in connecting with students and colleagues alike.

“Skip’s generosity, professionalism, and ability to connect real-world experience with the classroom made a lasting impact on our department, college and our students,” Carl Hollingsworth, Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, said.

“Skip is going to be dearly missed by everyone who knew him. He was a gentleman’s gentleman and wanted to help everyone he met – his colleagues, his clients, his friends, and his students,” Department Chair Craig Wallace said.

“I am especially going to miss our banter concerning college sports. Skip loved Clemson, but also his Georgia Bulldogs. Here’s one for you, Skip ‘Go Dawgs’!”

Skip is survived by his loving and devoted partner, Leanne Fuller of Greenville, SC; his son, Casey Spooner of Berlin, Germany, and his mother Carole Raines Spooner; his brother, Charles (Deborah) Spooner of Jacksonville, Florida; his brother-in-law, Larry Shoemaker of Donalsonville, Georgia; and several nieces, nephews, cousins, and dear friends. He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Pat Shoemaker.

A graveside service for immediate family and close friends will be held on Friday, July 10, 2026, at 11 a.m. at Friendship Cemetery in Donalsonville, Georgia.

Spooner’s obituary is available online.

John Thomson Acorn, Professor Emeritus of Visual Arts, passed away on June 14. Acorn was a founding faculty member in the Department of Art, joining Clemson University’s faculty in 1961 after graduating from Cranbrook Academy of Art. Acorn retired from Clemson in 1997 after 36 years of service and joined the Emeritus College on July 7, 2017.

Acorn served as Department Chair for many years and was a cornerstone of Clemson University’s artistic community. In recognition of his extraordinary service and impact, Clemson named the Acorn Gallery in Lee Hall in his honor. Acorn’s “Friday Flyers”, the six oversized, aluminum paper airplanes scattered across main campus, were originally part of a larger art project Acorn developed in 1996 when he was the chair of the Department of Art.

Memorial service arrangements are being finalized. Details will be announced as soon as available.

An obituary for John Acorn is available online.

Stuart Silvers, Professor Emeritus of Philosophy and inaugural Chair of the Department of Philosophy and Religion at Clemson, passed on April 11, 2026.

Silvers began his Clemson career on June 30, 1989, and retired on January 31, 2011. He joined the Emeritus College in 2015 and was later named an I. Dwaine Eubanks Emeritus College Fellow. He totaled 22 years of service with the University.

Silvers attended college at Michigan State, graduating with an interdisciplinary Social Science Divisional degree in 1958, followed by an master’s in Philosophy in 1960 and a PH.D. from the University of Pittsburgh in 1963.

Mere information is available on the Emeritus College’s In Memoriam page.

John O. Black Jr., retired department head of Seed Certification, passed away on April 25, 2026.

Black began his Clemson career on February 1, 1962, and retired on July 1, 1989.

Black graduated from Clemson University in 1957 and earned a master’s degree from Clemson in 1961.

John Black Jr.’s obituary is available online.

Clemson University mourns the death of Jayson Sanstrum, University Facilities maintenance manager for housing residential facilities – custodial.

“With all he faced, Jayson worked with his colleagues and the Employee Engagement Committee to make University Facilities an even better place for our team members, demonstrating that even though he might not be around to continue the work, he wanted the best things possible for those he enjoyed working with each day,” said Todd Barnette, chief facilities officer. “He knew that even when we can’t understand these hard challenges, the best way forward is to continue loving and caring for each other. His contagious smile and kind words of encouragement will be missed.”

Sanstrum began his Clemson career on March 23, 1999, as a temporary employee and was rehired as an FTE employee in 2019. He totaled more than 27 years of service with Clemson University.

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

An online obituary and service 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.

Raymond Schneider, Associate Professor Emeritus of Construction Science and Management, passed away on March 28, 2026.

Schneider began his Clemson career on August 15, 2000, and totaled more than 16 years of service with the University.

He earned a Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical Engineering from Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute (now part of New York University) and a Master of Business Administration degree from Long Island University – C.W. Post Campus.

Raymond Schneider’s obituary is available online.

Clara Ruth Clemens, retired administrative specialist for the Graduate School, passed away on April 22, 2026.

Clemens begin her Clemson career on November 30, 1964, and retired on July 1, 1994, totaling 30 years of service with the University.

A graveside service will be held 10:30 a.m. April 29 at Old Stone Church Cemetery in Clemson.

Clara Ruth Clemens’s obituary is available online.

Evelyn Plakal, 22, has passed away. She was a microbiology major from Elgin, South Carolina. She was a member of the Clemson University Honors College.

“Evelyn was an inspiration to all who knew her,” says Vice President for Student Affairs Doug Hallenbeck. “We are saddened by the news of her passing but take comfort in knowing the positive impact she made on her friends, family and the Clemson community. Our thoughts are with her loved ones during this time.”

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.

Tyler Bennett Huneycutt III, retired assistant academic program director in Management, passed away on April 18, 2026.

Following a distinguished Air Force career, Huneycutt began his Clemson career on July 1, 1993, and retired on July 1, 2007. He returned to Clemson as a temporary visiting lecturer from August 2007 to August 2018, and he joined the Emeritus College on July 21, 2017. Huneycutt totaled more than 17 years of service with the University. He also served as a commander of Clemson’s Air Force ROTC.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, April 25, at Clemson Presbyterian Church starting at 10 a.m. A visitation will follow the service at the church. An inurnment ceremony with military honors will be held at Memory Gardens Cemetery of Clemson starting at 1:30 p.m.

Tyler Bennett Huneycutt III’s obituary is available online.

Ernest Locke, retired senior Extension agent, passed away on April 5, 2026.

Locke began his Clemson career on January 11, 1974, and retired on June 21, 2002, totaling more than 28 years of service with the University. He returned part-time following his retirement for more than five years from 2003-2014.

Ernest Locke’s obituary is available online.