Davidson College – In Memoriam

Donald M. Campbell, 89, of New Smyrna Beach, passed away peacefully at 6:20 AM Saturday, June 22, 2024 at his home in New Smyrna Beach. Don was born November 20,1934 in Winchester, Virginia to Clyde and Anna Campbell. He graduated from Boyden High School in Salisbury, NC in 1953. He then attended Davidson College in Davidson, NC on a football scholarship. He graduated in 1957 with a degree in business and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army in the Armor Corps. He also earned a Master’s in Business Administration from Tulane University in 1970.

He served in the Army for over 27 years, retiring in 1983 at the rank of Colonel. He demonstrated exceptional leadership and dedication to his fellow Soldiers, earning many commendations for outstanding service including, the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal and Vietnam Campaign Medal. He also earned the coveted Ranger Tab, Parachutist Badge and the Army Staff Identification Badge.

He was a Vietnam Combat Veteran, serving there from 1967 to 1968 while assigned to the First Cavalry Division. He served around the world in Germany, Iran and multiple assignments stateside. He commanded the 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry from 1973 to 1975. He culminated a brilliant 27 plus year career in 1983 as the Program Manager Training Devices for the United States Army at the Orlando, Florida Navy Training Center. 

Following retirement from the Army, Don briefly worked for the St. John Lutheran Church in Winter Park, FL. He then became the President of Pulau Electronics, now Pulau Corporation, based in Orlando, FL. Based on his success and ties with industry, he became the Executive Director of the Training and Simulation Consortium in Orlando, FL. Using his leadership and organizational skills he grew that organization tremendously and was known for his innovation by the simulations community. He finally retired for good in 2005 in New Smyrna Beach, where he loved to boat, golf, play racquetball and host family and friends. He also loved to travel with his wife Gaye to Maine where they visited with family and friends.  

In New Smyrna Beach he was a proud member of the New Smyrna Beach Yacht Club and the Anglers Yacht Club, where he contributed many hours doing charitable work in the city and Volusia County. 

He is survived by his wife, Gaye Arthur Campbell of New Smyrna Beach, and predeceased by Sylvia Bennett Campbell; also survived by his brother Richard R. Campbell of Mount Pleasant, SC, three sons, Donald M. Campbell, Jr., Kure Beach, NC, Richard Ross Campbell II, Jacksonville, FL, Stephen L. Campbell, Saint Johns, FL , a stepson Jeff McClellan, China, Maine, six grandchildren, Craig, Leslie, Kaysee, Karlee, Brittney and Ryan, and two step grandsons, Matthew and Ryan and eight great grandchildren.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date, contributions may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project in lieu of flowers.

Andy Miles died peacefully on June 20th in Charlotte, NC. He is survived by his wife Sabine Vellucci, his son Sebastian, his mother Barbara Benchoff Miles, sister Ann Miles (Peter Colgrove), Locust Valley New York, brother John Miles (Monica Miles) of New York City, sister-in-law Christina Vellucci (Dennis McDonald) of Charlotte North Carolina. He is also survived by his nephews and nieces, Matthew, Samantha, Andreas, Adelaide, Declan, and Lachlan.

Andy was born in Troy, New York, the youngest son of Barbara and Wesley Miles. After a short childhood in upstate New York, the family moved first to Liverpool, England, then to Athens Greece, where his father took a teaching job, and his mother became a librarian. After many years travelling around Greece and Southern Europe, the family moved back to the US to Long Island, New York in 1972. There Andy attended and graduated from Portledge School before heading south to Davidson College in Davidson, North Carolina where he achieved a BA in English and was a member of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity that meant so much to him.

After a short stint back in New York right after college, Andy moved back to North Carolina, marrying Sabine in 2008 and welcoming their son Sebastian in 2011. Andy and Sabine had just begun a new adventure to move up to Locust Valley, New York when he was stricken with Glioblastoma (a fast-growing and aggressive brain tumor), precipitating a stay in Charlotte to receive treatment. Andy spent eight months battling the disease and had many good months due to the effectiveness of the treatments during certain times.
Andy was devoted to Sabine and Sebastian, and they built a wonderful family life in Charlotte. Among Andy’s many passions were music, word games, music festivals, his work, golf, travel, barbecuing, politics, sports, and spending time with his family at Topsail Beach on the coast of North Carolina and the Great Sacandaga Lake in the Adirondack Mountains of Upstate New York.

All will miss his quick-witted humor, keen intellect, and jovial character, especially those who worked with Andy during his almost 30 years at Donnelley Financial Solutions. Andy loved his job and had most recently moved into a new position when the diagnosis came. Andy was devastated that he was never able to go back to work and wrap up the projects he had started and be a part of the fall proxy season. Above all, Andy loved being with people, family and enjoying life.

In lieu of flowers, Sabine, and Andy request that donations be made to the Humane Society of Charlotte; https://humanesocietyofcharlotte.org/give/.

July 19th (Friday) 4-7pm, a Visitation with the family will be held at Hankins & Whittington Funeral Home, 1111 East Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28203. All are invited to visit.
July 20th (Saturday) a private Celebration of Life will be held.
July 27th (Saturday) 11am, a Memorial Service will be held at Christ Church, 61 E. Main Street, Oyster Bay, NY 11771.

Both the Celebration of Life and Memorial Service will be webcast and recorded for those not able to make the services. More details can be found on Andy Miles’ Caring Bridge website.

Dr. William Rowan Barron II, beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, minister, and friend, entered the Church Triumphant on June 16, 2024, completing a life of rich blessing and purpose. The second son of N. Gonzales and Ruby Hutton Barron, he was born in Columbia, South Carolina, on November 18, 1942, while his father served overseas as a Chaplain in World War II. Bill became Head of Staff at Sequoyah Hills Presbyterian Church in 1981, after serving as Assistant Minister at First Presbyterian Church in Sanford, Florida, and Minister at St. Luke’s Presbyterian Church in Titusville, Florida, and First Presbyterian Church in Marianna, Florida. He retired in 2008, and was named Pastor Emeritus at Sequoyah Hills in 2009.

A child of the manse, he called three states and five places home. His beloved father (“Da”) was his signature role model and a primary influence in Bill’s call to ministry. Bill was an Eagle Scout, President of the Student Council, and delegate to Alabama Boys State. He had a lifelong love of sports and games, fed in part by the challenge, camaraderie, and competition, whether playing, coaching, or watching.
In high school he wrote a weekly column for the local paper called “Sportingly Yours,” which always ended with a life lesson. As a young minister, he became involved in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes; a connection that influenced his son’s becoming a coach. Through the years according to one who watched him on the softball field, at the billiards or ping-pong tables, and on the golf course, he was a “natural athlete with world class hand-eye coordination and brilliant strategy.” A lifelong borderline fanatic Georgia fan, he also relished watching the Vols and Braves. Probably his favorite spectator sports showcased his children and grandchildren.

He graduated from Davidson College (Class of 1964), and received his Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry degrees from Columbia Theological Seminary, where he later served on the Board of Trustees. The Presbyterian Church was in his DNA.

So was storytelling. He guided his children and congregations by example and story, believing as Henri Nouwen did that story “…creates space. We can dwell in a story, walk around, find our own place.” His sermons created space for people, including himself, to “find their own place.”

His practical, relatable message always linked Scripture and the real world, and his theology was consistent: we are saved by grace. Bill’s heart for ministry was equal parts preacher and pastor. He thrived on relationships—with individuals, congregations, the larger denomination, other denominations, and other religions.

After retiring in 2008, he served a congregation in crisis as interim, shepherding members whose families who had been in that church for generations. He also organized and led an interdenominational program called “Ministry of the Laity,” bringing people together for eight weeks of study in the fall and the spring. He later worked with Muslim leaders to bring Muslims and Christians together in a series of community events where speakers from both faiths told their stories and engaged in open dialogue, always around a shared meal.
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Bill loved travel, especially when it included his children and later his grandchildren. In the summer of 1982, Bill exchanged pulpits and homes with a minister in Scotland. Before that immersion experience, the entire family spent several weeks traveling in Europe. That seed no doubt later inspired his children’s international study and work-related travel. His children have now instilled that spirit in their children.
Bill’s yen for exotic destinations backfired when he bought into Telly Savalis’s convincing late-night television endorsement of a “fun for the whole family” cruise to the Bahamas. The series of disasters did, however, become everyone’s favorite vacation story and gets better and better with each reenactment.

Bill met Eleanor Warr, the love of his life, on a blind date his senior year at Davidson College. They married three years later. Their love story spanned sixty years, four generations, and four pastorates. For their 50th anniversary, he pulled off the ultimate surprise; and when Eleanor turned around in the church of her childhood where they were married and saw a sanctuary filled with people she loved, she said, “This must be what heaven looks like.”

Bill was creative, funny, and smart. He loved to sing along with Elvis, lead pilgrimages to the Holy Land, and tell stories to children. He thrived on an audience and cherished one-on-one conversations. He was at home with the privileged and underprivileged, with prisoners, the devout, and the atheist. He lived with clarity, authenticity, and love.

Bill is survived by.his wife Eleanor Barron, his son Richard Barron (Maureen), his daughter Meg Christian (John), and his son Walt Barron (Katy); grandchildren Gill and Kate Christian, Lane, Rae, and Billy Barron, and Ruby and Dot Barron; sisters Lucie Eggleston (Bob) and Sally LaBadie; and sister-in-law Sibylle Barron; and many nieces and nephews. .

He was pre-deceased by his parents Ruby Hutton Barron and N. Gonzales Barron and brother Dr. F. Hutton Barron.

The Service of Witness to the Resurrection will be at 2:00 pm Saturday, June 22nd, in the sanctuary of Sequoyah Hills Presbyterian Church. A reception will follow in Barron Hall.

Memorials may be made to Tennessee Memory Disorders Foundation, 1400 Dowell Springs Blvd., Suite 340, Knoxville, TN 37909. (tmdf.org) or Sequoyah Hills Presbyterian Church.

LaCrystal Jeanne’ Jackson was born on June 21, 1976, to Jo Ellen Jackson and the late Eric Jackson in Chester, South Carolina. Our dearly departed, affectionately known as “Crystal,” ascended to Heaven on Wednesday, June 5, 2024.

LaCrystal was educated in the Fairfield County School System, graduating from Fairfield Central High School in 1994. She then pursued higher education, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Davidson College in North Carolina. LaCrystal was extremely bright, driven and had a passion for learning. Her thirst for knowledge and dedication to personal and professional growth led her to obtain a Master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of South Carolina and a certificate in Nonprofit Management from Duke University, all while maintaining a full-time job and raising her boys. Further demonstrating her commitment to excellence, LaCrystal completed the Project Management Fundamentals course at Midlands Technical College and achieved her Project Management Professional (PMP) Certification. She was also a proud graduate of the esteemed Riley Institute Diversity Leaders Initiative at Furman University.

LaCrystal was a hardworking woman who devoted countless hours to every role she held. Her dedication and brilliance allowed her to excel as a project manager, proposal/grant writer, consultant, and strategist. Her passion for learning and her drive to make a difference in every endeavor she undertook will be remembered and cherished by all who had the privilege to work alongside her.

LaCrystal’s legacy of hard work, dedication, and love will continue to inspire those who knew her. She will be deeply missed by her family, friends, and colleagues.

The Joy of the Journey

LaCrystal was a benevolent, charismatic, and loving person whose wardrobe was as colorful as she was. A social butterfly with an infectious laugh, she had an amazing ability to make everyone feel comfortable in her presence. Gifted in building meaningful relationships, her friends and social network included people from all different walks of life. She mastered making connections, whether for jobs, resources, or people, touching lives worldwide. To her family, friends, and communities, LaCrystal was every woman—a superwoman.

LaCrystal’s love for servant leadership shined brightly through her numerous volunteer roles, including serving on the board of Goodwill Industries of the Upstate/Midlands South Carolina, the Midlands Fatherhood Coalition, and Vice President of Administration of the South Carolina PMI Midlands Chapter. LaCrystal also developed a passion for politics, providing tireless support, volunteer management, and impeccable execution for successful local campaigns. She believed in getting involved in opportunities that uplifted people and bettered the community.

In the Spring of 2018, LaCrystal “the Decoder” Jackson joyfully became a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. (Columbia Alumnae Chapter). Devoted to the organization’s principles of scholarship, public service, and sisterhood, she wore her crimson and cream with pride.

LaCrystal loved the Lord and was a prayer warrior, worshiper, and a woman of great faith. Grateful for God’s faithfulness and compassion, she walked out her faith by always giving to and helping others—being the hands and feet of Christ. She organized prayer calls and devotions to support friends and colleagues through various life challenges, including the weekly Workplace Wednesday Motivation for working professionals and Hannah’s Prayer Wall for those desiring children. Her special calling to minister to single mothers led her to provide guidance, resources, and babysitting. LaCrystal was a champion for women, supporting several women’s ministries throughout the state, helping others set bold life goals, and developing strategies to achieve them, all while fervently praying for their success.

Her Legacy

LaCrystal’s greatest joy was her two boys, Brandon and Nicholas. A devoted mother, LaCrystal was determined to ensure that her boys had strong mentors and role models. She connected with Big Brothers Big Sisters and the Midlands Fatherhood Coalition as a passionate advocate and supporter of these organizations. She faithfully loved her family and her close friends from every facet of her life.

In addition to her father, LaCrystal was preceded in death by her brother, Leroy Coad, Jr.

LaCrystal leaves to cherish and forever hold her timeless memories to her two beautiful children, Brandon A. Jackson and Nicholas D. Jackson; mother, Jo Ellen Jackson; two sisters, Patrice Darlene (John) Sanders and Octavia Pearson; one aunt, Hattie Mae Thompson; great aunt, Mattie Fae Johnson; six nephews, Johnathan Sanders, Leroy “Trey” Coad III, Raymonte Pearson, Katarious Pearson, Samal Pearson, and SaDavien Pearson; three nieces, Dollecia Brianna Coad, Shontavia Pearson, and Amirah Pearson; goddaughter, Tiyanna Woodard; special friend, Keithan McGowan; bonus brother, Dr. Shakeem Lane; bonus sister, Shonda Irby (Mark) Coe; special sister, Alana Odom (Derrick) Williams; special father figure, Heyward Bannister; and a host of close relatives and dear friends.