Category: Obituaries

Daniel Warner, Professor Emeritus of Mathematical Sciences, passed away over the weekend.

Warner began his Clemson career on August 15, 1979, retiring in 2015 after nearly 36 years of service. He returned to work in a part-time position for another year. In addition to his time as a professor, he served as president of Faculty Senate and was active in the Emeritus College.

His online obituary will be shared when available.

Lawrence “Larry” Nix,  Professor Emeritus of Forestry and Natural Resources, passed away on April 17, 2024. 

He began his Clemson career on October 1, 1973, retiring in 2002 before serving as a professor for another five years.

Nix received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Mississippi State University, where he majored in forestry with an emphasis on the physiology of forest trees. In 1974, he received his Ph.D. from the University of Georgia.

James (Jim) Collier Fanning, Professor Emeritus of Chemistry and former assistant and acting department head, passed away on June 22, 2024.

Fanning began his Clemson career on September 1, 1961, and retired in 1992 as a professor of chemistry with more than 30 years of service. He returned in an adjunct role until August 1999.

Fanning graduated from The Citadel in 1953 before earning a master’s degree and Ph.D. from Georgia Tech.

A celebration of life will be held at a future date. Jim Fanning’s obituary is available online.

Johnny Lee Brewer passed away on June 10, 2024.

Brewer began his Clemson career on April 16, 1965, and retired with more than 28 years of service in 1993 as the County Extension Director in Allendale. He then worked as an agricultural and animal associate in 1997-1998 and 2002-2007. 

Johnny Lee Brewer’s obituary will be posted when available.

V Sridharan, retired Professor of Management and former chair of the Department of Management at Clemson University, passed away on June 21, 2024.

Sridharan began his Clemson career on December 29, 1987, and served the University for more than 35 years before his retirement.

His online obituary will be shared when available.

Clemson University mourns the death of Lane Ham, livestock law enforcement officer for Livestock Poultry Health in the College of Agriculture, Forestry and Life Sciences.

“Lane was an exemplary livestock law enforcement officer for the Clemson Livestock Poultry Health Field Services team,” said Sean Eastman, director of field services for Clemson Livestock Poultry Health. “He always carried himself professionally with livestock ownersand stockyard operators, and treated them fairly, but firmly. He always had a smile on his face when working with the team and went above and beyond what was asked of him. He was tough minded and proud to be a Clemson Tiger. I call him Clemson Tough. He will be deeply missed here at LPH and left big shoes to fill. Rest easy, my friend.”

Ham obtained a degree in Animal and Veterinary Science from Clemson in 2012, and an MBA from Clemson in 2018. During his time at Clemson, he was involved in the CU Pre-Vet Club, Block and Bridle, and the Agriculture and Natural Resources Council.

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 funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, June 15, 2024, at Manning First Baptist Church.

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.

Jay Smink, Professor Emeritus of Educational and Organizational Leadership and Executive Director of the National Dropout Prevention Center at Clemson University, passed away on Wednesday, June 5, 2024.

Smink retired in 2010 as the executive director of the National Dropout Prevention Center at Clemson University after more than 22 years of service. After retirement, he returned to work an additional year and eight months. Smink was awarded professor emeritus in Clemson University’s College of Health, Education, and Human Development.

He obtained a bachelor’s degree in Industrial Education from Millersville University of Pennsylvania and a master’s and doctorate in Education from The Pennsylvania State University.

A visitation event to honor Jay Smink’s life will take place at Duckett – Robinson Funeral Home in Central, S.C, on June 13, 2024. The visitation will begin at 6:30 p.m. and conclude at 8:30 p.m. A brief prayer will follow the visitation.

Jay Smink’s full obituary is available online.

Services will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, June 22, at Clemson University’s Baruch Institute of Coastal Ecology and Forest Science. Sulliván’s obituary is available online and a Dr. Sean-Mazeika P. Sullivan Memorial Graduate Fellowship Endowment has been created in his honor. A donation link is available on Clemson Forever’s website. 

Clemson University mourns the death of Mažeika Patricio Sulliván, director of the Baruch Institute of Coastal Ecology and Forest Science (BICEFS) and professor in the Department of Forestry and Environmental Conservation.

Sulliván began his Clemson career on August 15, 2022. He oversaw research efforts at BICEFS, focusing on the environmental impact of changing land-use patterns, coastal natural resource conservation, forestry, water quality, biodiversity and watershed management.

“We have lost a brilliant scientist, mentor, colleague, and friend,” said Paula Agudelo, College of Agriculture, Forestry and Life Sciences associate dean of research and Experiment Station director. “He was a compassionate, transformative leader who leaves a rich legacy of fundamental and applied scientific discoveries in aquatic ecology and conservation. For those of us fortunate enough to have interacted with him, our lives have been enriched beyond measure and we are challenged to make good on his investment in us.”

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.

Linda Marie LeCroy, 76, of West Union, passed away on May 14, 2024.

Hired on October 6, 1989, she worked for Clemson for more than 20 years before retiring in January 2010 as an administrative specialist for the Department of Sociology.

A memorial service will be held at a later date.

Linda LeCroy’s obituary is available online.

Trevor J. Innis, 18, passed away on May 5. He was a freshman computer science major from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

“We were saddened to hear of Trevor’s death,” said Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students Chris Miller. “We send thoughts of healing to his loved ones 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.

The family will receive friends on Saturday, May 25 from 10 a.m.-noon at Goldfinch Funeral Home in Murrells Inlet, South Carolina. A private funeral will follow. A full obituary is available online.