February 17, 2025
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.
February 12, 2025
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.
February 12, 2025
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.
February 12, 2025
Jerry Arnold Whitmire, retired Clemson employee who served in various capacities, passed away on January 31, 2025.
Whitmire began his Clemson career on March 1, 1967. He retired as the assistant to the dean of the Department of Education and Human Development on January 1, 2000, after 33 years of service. He then served as associate director of the National Brick Research Center from April 7, 2000 until April 21, 2011, and intermittently thereafter. Combined, Whitmire totaled 44 years years and one month of service to the University.
February 12, 2025
Larry Hudson, Professor Emeritus of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, passed away on February 9, 2025.
Hudson began his Clemson career on July 1, 1971, and retired on July 1, 1999. He was then rehired from 1999-2001, joining the Emeritus College on March 14, 2017. Combined, Hudson totaled 39 years and six months of service to the University.
He earned a bachelor’s degree in agriculture from Berea College before earning a Ph.D. in Animal Science from the University of Kentucky. While at Clemson, he also served as a horse specialist with Clemson Cooperative Extension, fostering youth education initiatives like state level horse camps and 4-H programs. He served as the president of the Extension Senate and earned awards in both 1988 and 1996 for Superior Service in Clemson Extension. He was a National Extension Leadership Development Program intern from 1990-1993 and in 1993 he won the Extension Master Teacher Award.
Services will take place at University Lutheran Church in Clemson on Thursday, February 13 at 2 p.m. A private interment will happen at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions may be made to an Animal Science scholarship fund in his memory.
January 29, 2025
Roy Tench, retired master electrician with University Facilities, passed away on January 1, 2025.
Tench began his Clemson career on July 5, 1977, and retired on January 5, 2006, totaling more than 28 years of service.
January 29, 2025
Eric Malcom Martin, retired landscape supervisor with University Facilities, passed away on January 22, 2025.
Martin began his Clemson career on March 2, 1998, and retired on December 31, 2013, totaling more than 15 years of service.
January 27, 2025
Ethan Ackerman, 20, passed away on Jan. 25, 2025. He was a wildlife and fisheries biology major from Central, South Carolina.
“We were heartbroken to learn the news of Ethan’s passing,” said Vice President for Student Affairs Doug Hallenbeck. “Ethan has been a valuable member of our University community, and we send our deepest condolences to his family, friends and loved ones as they make sense of his untimely passing. We hope for peace and comfort during this difficult 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.
Funeral services are set for 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 29 at Keowee Baptist Church in Six Mile, South Carolina. His obituary is available online.
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.
January 24, 2025
Clemson University mourns the death of John V. Boyette Jr., special project manager and emeritus director of the Office of Land and Capital Asset Stewardship.
“John always had the University’s best interest at the forefront, and his guidance and leadership of real estate initiatives were instrumental in the growth of the University’s real estate portfolio,” said Laura Stoner, associate vice president for real estate strategy and operations. “His engagement in the development of the CU-ICAR campus in Greenville, the acquisition of Greenville ONE and the development of the Clemson University Restoration Institute in North Charleston are just a few of the real estate initiatives he helped lead. He was an amazing mentor and friend and will be missed by all those who were fortunate enough to have had the opportunity to know him and work with him.”
Boyette graduated with a degree in Civil Engineering from Clemson in 1965, serving as co-captain of the football team and earning AP First Team All Atlantic Coast Conference honors his senior year. A fifth-round draft pick of the Buffalo Bills, Boyette pursued a career in engineering. After a distinguished career in the private sector, Boyette returned home to Clemson on December 4, 2004, to serve as the director of the Office of Land and Capital Asset Stewardship. He served as emeritus director of the office upon retiring in 2015 and worked as a special project manager.
Counseling services are available to faculty and staff through ComPsych, the University’s Employee Assistance Program provider, at 866-365-0813.
His obituary is available online. A memorial service will be held on Sunday, January 26, 2025, at 2 p.m. at Thomas McAfee Funeral Homes, Downtown Chapel in Greenville, S.C. The Boyette family will receive friends in the funeral home immediately following the service until 4:30 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.
January 16, 2025
Jerry Whitmire, Professor Emeritus of Languages (Spanish), passed away on December 21, 2024.
Service time to the University will be shared when available.
A celebration of his life will be held at a later date. His obituary is available online.
