Converse University Invites the Community to the Viewing and Memorial Service for President Jeffrey H. Barker
Wednesday, July 28, 2021 8:00 am
Converse and the greater community are invited to a viewing for Dr. Jeffrey H. Barker, Converse University President, on Sunday, August 1, 2021 from 3:00 pm - 7:00 pm. The viewing will be held at the John Stinson Woodward Memorial Chapel of the J.W. Woodward Funeral Home, Inc. in Spartanburg, S.C. Dr. Barker suddenly and tragically died the evening of July 21, 2021, in a fatal bicycle crash in Spartanburg. He was 63.
A campus-wide memorial to celebrate Dr. Barker's life and legacy will take place on Friday, August 27, 2021 at 1:00 pm in Twichell Auditorium in the Zimmerli Performance Center on the Converse University campus in Spartanburg, S.C. The event will be live-streamed. Those attending the in-person memorial will be expected to adhere to Converse's mask protocols and physical distancing policy. More information will be posted on www.converse.edu prior to the event. Converse classes will be canceled on August 27 to allow for students, faculty, and staff to attend.
Those who wish to do so, are invited to share memories and photos of Dr. Barker here. In lieu of flowers, the Jeffrey H. Barker Memorial Fund has been set up to celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Barker. Donations will be applied to a project to be named at a later date. Those who wish to give online may do so here (select the Jeffrey H. Barker Memorial Fund in the drop-down menu). For mail-in, please send your gift to Converse University; Institutional Advancement; 580 East Main Street; Spartanburg, S.C. 29302.
Dr. Barker became Converse’s 11th President on July 6, 2021, to lead the university during the 2021-2022 academic year while a search for Converse’s next President is conducted. Dr. Barker was appointed to the position as President Krista Newkirk departed Converse to become President of the University of Redlands in California. Dr. Barker most recently served as Converse’s Provost and as President had planned to draw from his more than 20 years of experience at Converse to oversee the transition that would position the university to attract exceptional students from all over the United States and internationally.
Go back | Show other stories | Send this page to a friend
About Converse University
Converse University empowers students to become transformative leaders who see clearly, decide wisely, and act justly. Converse was founded in 1889 by citizens of Spartanburg, SC, who aimed to create an educational experience for women, and in fall 2020 it welcomed its first undergraduate co-educational incoming class. The University encompasses the School of Humanities, Sciences, and Business; the School of the Arts; the School of Education and Graduate Studies; and the Converse College for Women. Converse students experience deep scholarship, transformative mentorship, experiential learning, and wonderful support for and belief in each other. Through this unique formula, Converse is a creator of opportunity for its students through a personalized education that also includes the professional and technical skills graduates need to be successful in their careers.