Honored Alumni
Learn More About Our Honorees
William “Rick” Norskov, ’76, MD
Distinguished Service Award
Throughout his years at Southern, Rick became known for his unwavering commitment to student success. Students consistently praised his engaging teaching style, accessibility, and genuine care for those he served. He sponsored the Pre-Medicine Club, connected students with research and internship opportunities, and spearheaded partnerships with leaders at Erlanger Health System that expanded research and internship opportunities for Southern students. He also helped aspiring physicians navigate the demands of professional education while remaining attentive to God’s leading in their lives. Through the Encounter Club and other mentoring opportunities, he encouraged thoughtful conversations about science, faith, and vocation. Rick also developed a Plants in Medicine field class during his last 10 years at Southern, which highlights God’s remarkable design and patterns in the natural world.
Rick’s passion for helping students connect their career choices with God’s calling became a defining focus of his work. He partnered with Southern’s Center for Teaching Excellence to foster meaningful conversations about career and calling among students, faculty, and staff. These efforts helped inspire initiatives designed to encourage students to identify their God-given talents, explore vocational paths, and pursue careers aligned with their purpose. Through workshops, mentoring, classroom discussions, and campus programming, he influenced hundreds of students as they considered how their professional aspirations could become a form of service and ministry.
His dedication to students earned him the President’s Award of Excellence for Commitment to Student Success in 2014. Today, Rick continues his service to Southern as a Lights Volunteer, extending a lifelong commitment to mentoring, service, and supporting the mission of his alma mater. His journey from Southern student, to physician, to professor, and now volunteer reflects a life devoted to helping others recognize and pursue their calling.
Distinguished Service | William “Rick” Norskov, ’76, MD
Carley Cole-Cavins is an award-winning advocate, author, and digital marketing strategist
dedicated to empowering families affected by chronic illnesses. As founder of Cleverly
Changing LLC and senior digital marketing manager at Cayenne Wellness Center and Children’s
Foundation in California, she leverages her expertise to amplify awareness and advocacy
for the sickle cell community.
Carley’s advocacy is deeply personal. When she and her husband learned that one of their twin daughters had sickle cell disease, she longed for a resource to help families navigate the journey. Determined to fill that gap, she began writing under the pen name Elle Cole—creating books that simplify complex medical conditions for children. Her works include Aaron Learns About Type 1 Diabetes: A Coloring Book for Kids, The Ultimate Sickle Cell Activity Book, ABCs of Sickle Cell Disease, and A Sickle Cell Coloring Book for Kids, which has sold over 4,000 copies. Her books, including Spanish translations, are used in hospitals worldwide to educate young patients and their caregivers.
A tireless advocate for sickle cell disease and type 1 diabetes, Carley serves on several advisory boards, including the American Society of Hematology’s Washington D.C. Community Advisory Board, the Cure Sickle Cell Initiative’s Community Input Panel (led by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute), and the Sick Cells Ambassador Program. She is also a member of the Institute for History and Healing and the Parental Community Advisory Board for Type 1 Diabetes.
Her impact has been widely recognized. In 2020, Carley was honored with the Advocating for Another WEGO Health Award, celebrating her dedication to patient advocacy. In 2022, she received the Caregiving Champion Award for her unwavering commitment to supporting families navigating chronic illnesses. From 2021 to 2024, she has co-hosted the Sickle Cell Caregiver Summit in partnership with the Sickle Cell Community Consortium.
Carley is also a podcast producer and media strategist. She hosts the Cleverly Changing Homeschool Podcast, ranked #3 on Feedspot’s Top 20 Homeschooling Mom Podcasts, and produces the VitaminSC3 Podcast, which amplifies real stories from sickle cell patients and their families.
A Bronze Congressional Award recipient, Carley’s work has been featured on NPR, ABC 7, BBC World Service Radio, Good Morning Washington, and Vertex’s Walking With Warriors Project. As a writer, motivational speaker, and digital marketing expert, she continues to uplift and educate communities, ensuring that no family faces the journey of chronic illness alone.
Bruce Coston, ‘83, DVM
Alumnus of the Year
Bruce Coston has distinguished himself as a veterinarian, author, leader, and dedicated supporter of Southern. While a student here, he immersed himself in campus life as a member of the Die Meistersinger male chorus, baritone in Southernaires Quartet, resident assistant, officer in both the Biology Club and Student Association, president of his graduating class, and Outstanding Senior in the Biology Department. After graduating with a degree in biology, he earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine, where he received the Award for Excellence in Clinical Research.
After completing a veterinary internship in Rochester, New York, Bruce and his wife, Cynthia, founded Seven Bends Veterinary Hospital in Woodstock, Virginia, growing it into a 4.5-doctor practice with 26 employees—the first primary care veterinary hospital in Virginia licensed to deliver nuclear medicine.
In addition to his clinical work, Bruce became an accomplished author. His books, Ask the Animals and The Gift of Pets, were published by St. Martin’s Press and featured by The Virginia Festival of the Book, with The Gift of Pets appearing on the 2012 Los Angeles Times Summer Reading List. In 2021, he authored Far From the Norm, a biography of Norm Middag, a towering figure among Adventist Youth Directors.
Following his retirement from clinical practice in 2018, Bruce continued to influence the profession through leadership, mentoring, accreditation, and veterinary education. He served on the Virginia Veterinary Medical Association Board of Directors for more than a decade and received its Veterinary Service Award in 2018. Nationally, he chaired multiple American Veterinary Medical Association committees, contributed to veterinary education accreditation, and mentored managing doctors across the United States and Canada.
Bruce has also devoted significant time and energy to serving the Seventh-day Adventist Church and his alma mater. He has served in numerous church leadership roles and, on Southern’s behalf, organized the Die Meistersinger reunion held during Homecoming Weekend 2024. He also played a key role in securing $250,000 in commitments that launched the Marvin Robertson Endowed Concert Series, which this year awarded more than $7,000 in student scholarships.
Alumnus of the Year | Scott Hodges, ’75, DO
Scott Hodges has dedicated his career to transforming the way spinal injuries are
treated.
Growing up in a small town in western North Carolina, Scott was shaped by a faith-filled home and his Adventist education. His years in boarding academy and at Southern gave him not only lifelong friends and mentors but also the discipline and determination that would carry him through medical school, residency, and the decades of pioneering research that followed.
After earning his medical degree and completing advanced training in orthopedic and spine surgery, Scott served in the U.S. Air Force before joining the Center for Sports Medicine in Chattanooga, where he practiced for 27 years. During that time, he became convinced that patients suffering from debilitating back pain deserve better than spinal fusion, a treatment that often leads to repeated surgeries and limited quality of life.
In 2003, Scott filed his first patent for what would become the MOTUS implant, the first motion-preserving joint replacement for the lower back. Over the next two decades, through research, testing, and overcoming various challenges, Scott continued to believe in the project’s potential to change lives. By 2017, his team had begun treating patients in Grand Cayman, and soon after, they secured FDA approval to launch a pivotal clinical trial in the United States—a study requiring 158 patients across 17 leading institutions, from Mayo Clinic to New York University. Raising more than $75 million to fund the research, Scott helped guide the project through every phase. Results have shown statistically significant improvements over fusion: less pain, quicker recovery, and more patients returning to work. With FDA approval expected soon, the MOTUS implant stands poised to redefine spine care worldwide.
Alongside his surgical work, Scott has published more than 100 peer-reviewed papers, delivered 50+ national presentations, and holds at least 57 patents related to spinal innovation. He views each step as guided by God’s providence—“miracle after miracle” opening doors at just the right time. He’s also grateful for the connections he made at Southern that have supported his success with the MOTUS implant.
Scott and his wife make their home in Tennessee. He is the proud father of two children and grandfather of two. Even as he looks ahead to the widespread adoption of the MOTUS implant, Scott hopes to be remembered most as a good husband, a good father, and someone whose work witnessed to God’s leading.
Jenée Lee, ’17, PhD
Young Alumna of the Year
Jenée Lee has quickly established herself as a scholar, advocate, and leader whose work is improving the lives of vulnerable communities. After earning her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Southern, she completed a Master of Social Work at The Ohio State University and became a licensed social worker. She earned her PhD in 2025 from Virgina Commonwealth University, where her research was focused on housing insecurity, housing quality, and housing inequality, particularly among marginalized families, with the goal of advancing dignity, stability, and justice through both scholarship and service.
Since graduating from Southern, Jenée has built an impressive record of professional achievement. Her work has led to peer-reviewed publications, national conference presentations, community-based research initiatives, and programs that inform housing policy and practice. In recognition of her leadership and impact, she was named a Forbes 30 Under 30 Columbus Local Lister in 2025 and has received numerous awards for scholarship, service, and leadership throughout her academic career.
Beyond her research, Jenée has devoted her career to serving others through community engagement and advocacy. Through her work with the Columbus City Attorney’s Office and other community organizations, she has helped connect families with critical housing resources, advocated for seniors and underserved residents, trained professionals, and developed innovative approaches to addressing housing and community challenges. She also serves as an educator and mentor, teaching social work courses and investing in the next generation of practitioners.
Her commitment to service began at Southern, where she served as a mentor in the First Year Experience program, worked as a teaching assistant and research assistant, led Southern’s Psi Chi chapter, and participated in research projects that resulted in publication and conference presentations. Known for her servant leadership and passion for helping others succeed, Jenée continues to exemplify Southern’s mission through a career dedicated to faith, service, scholarship, and community impact.
Young Alumna of the Year | Abigale (Choi) Madonia, ’21
Abigale Madonia graduated from Southern with a bachelor’s degree in marketing and
has quickly made her mark as an entrepreneur, community leader, and nonprofit founder.
In 2020, while still a student, Abigale launched Reyka & Lu Creative, a full-service marketing and advertising firm specializing in helping small and medium-sized businesses grow and thrive. She serves as CEO, leading her team in providing innovative strategies that help local businesses stand out in competitive markets. Shortly after graduating, she co-founded Nooga Networking, a Chattanooga-based networking group designed to connect business professionals across industries. Under her leadership, the group grew to more than 5,000 members, becoming one of the city’s largest and most active professional communities.
In addition to her work in the business world, Abigale has dedicated much of her life to animal rescue. In 2024, she founded Your Local Fur Mama, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that specializes in rescuing neonatal kittens and puppies across Tennessee, Alabama, and Georgia. With more than eight years of fostering experience, she has worked with numerous shelters and rescues, served on boards, and coordinated foster programs to save the most vulnerable animals. Her rescue efforts have not only saved countless lives but also inspired a growing network of foster families and supporters.
Outside of her professional and nonprofit work, Abigale is deeply rooted in her faith and community. She attends Crosswalk Chattanooga and hosts a weekly ladies’ Bible study in her home. Born and raised in Maine, she moved to Tennessee for college and has since built a life filled with purpose, service, and love. She is married to her husband, Zachary, and together they share their home with two dogs—Nalu and Lilly—and seven cats—Balenciaga, Dolce, Harley, Rory Blue, Elio, Olive, and Reagan.
Abigale’s journey reflects her passion for building connections, creating opportunities, and making a difference—whether in the boardroom, the community, or through the lives of the animals she rescues.
Francisco Ortiz, ’16
Graduate Studies Alumnus of the Year
Francisco Ortiz has dedicated his career to helping individuals and families navigate life’s challenges through compassionate, accessible mental health care. After earning a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Southwestern Adventist University in 2014, he completed a Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Southern in 2016. During his time at Southern, he served as a graduate assistant at the Summerour Counseling Center, helping expand mental health support for the campus and local community.
Following graduation, Francisco returned to his hometown of Houston, Texas, where he pursued his vision of increasing access to mental health services. After earning licensure as a Licensed Professional Counselor, he founded District Counseling in 2018. What began as a personal dream quickly grew into a thriving counseling practice focused on serving individuals, couples, and families, particularly within the Spanish-speaking community, where the need for culturally and linguistically responsive mental health care remains significant.
Today, Francisco is licensed in Texas, Florida, Virginia, Idaho, Utah, and California and has earned additional certifications in forensic mental health evaluation, brain health, anger resolution, crisis intervention, and relationship counseling. In addition to leading District Counseling, he serves as director of school-based clinical mental health services at Houston Adventist Academy, providing support for students and families while leading school-based counseling initiatives. He also contributes to the profession by supervising counselors in training through multiple universities and mentoring the next generation of mental health professionals.
Francisco’s commitment to service extends beyond his professional practice. Through counseling ministries, crisis intervention efforts, community outreach, and pro bono mental health services for underserved individuals and families, he continues to make a meaningful impact in the communities he serves. His dedication to expanding access to mental health care, particularly for Spanish-speaking populations, reflects a lifelong calling to support those experiencing emotional and psychological pain.
Graduate Studies Alumnus of the Year | Benjamin Jones, Jr., ’01
Pastor Benjamin Jones is the current and eighth president of the South Central Conference
of Seventh-day Adventists, headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee. With more than 28,000
members and growing, the conference territory includes the states of Alabama, Mississippi,
Kentucky, Tennessee, and Florida, west of the Apalachicola River.
God has had His hand on Pastor Jones’s life since his teenage years, leading him to share the gospel. He is a graduate of Oakwood College, now Oakwood University in Huntsville, Alabama, receiving a bachelor’s degree in religion in 1971. He received his Master of Arts in religion from Southern in 2001. For more than 50 years, he has been in ministry, preaching throughout the United States and around the world. He currently serves on Southern’s Board of Trustees.
Pastor Jones has served as ministerial director, pastor, evangelist, adjunct professor, counselor, and mentor. He has been married to Carol J. Jones, the love of his life, for 56 years. The Joneses have two adult children and eight awesome grandchildren.
Benjamin loves the Lord, his family, and God’s people everywhere. His passion is to lead people into an experience with the Living Christ. He is known for always going the extra mile, caring for people, and inspiring those around him to be a better version of themselves. His lifetime goals are simple and threefold: to be the best husband a wife could pray for, the best father any child could have, and the best soldier in the army of the Lord.
C.Y. Liu, MD, and Ruth Liu, EdD
Honorary Alumni
Chung “C. Y.” Liu, MD, and Ruth (Wang) Liu, EdD, have devoted their lives to service, leadership, education, and philanthropy, leaving an enduring impact on healthcare, higher education, and their community. Together, they have combined distinguished professional careers with a deep commitment to supporting others and advancing opportunities for future generations.
Born in China, Ruth immigrated to the United States as a young child and went on to build an accomplished career in nursing, higher education, and community leadership. She served in faculty and administrative roles at Loma Linda University, the University of Illinois, and Southern, co-founded and directed the East Tennessee Consortium for Higher Education, and contributed to scholarship, international consulting, and nonprofit leadership. Her research has been shared through professional conferences and peer-reviewed publications, and her consulting work extended internationally to healthcare and nursing education institutions in China and Taiwan. Following retirement, she chaired Southern’s Keys for Excellence Campaign, helping the university achieve recognition as the 100th institution worldwide designated as an All-Steinway School. Today, she continues her commitment to service as chairman of the board for the Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga.
Born and raised in Taiwan, C. Y. pursued a remarkable medical career that transformed women’s healthcare globally. After training in Taiwan and the United States, he established his practice in Chattanooga and became an internationally recognized pioneer in gynecological endoscopic surgery. Through thousands of presentations, publications, and surgical demonstrations, he educated physicians across the globe and helped establish techniques that have become the standard of care. His innovations revolutionized gynecological surgery and continue to influence the practice of physicians worldwide. His professional leadership included service as president of the American Association of Gynecological Laparoscopists, one of the most respected organizations in his specialty.
The Lius’ commitment to service has extended well beyond their professional achievements. Through philanthropy, community involvement, and medical mission work, they have invested in causes that improve lives and strengthen communities. In 2025, they were recognized as Philanthropists of the Year by the Southeastern Tennessee Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals. Their connection to Southern runs deep through their family, including their son, Brian Liu, ’00, DMA, an educator and arts leader, and their daughter, Lora Liu, ’05, MD, an endometriosis specialist and surgeon. Four grandchildren enliven their lives, one of whom is planning to attend Southern next year. Through the Lius’ generosity, professional accomplishments, and lifelong commitment to education and service, the Lius have enriched both Southern and the broader community they have faithfully served.
Honorary Alumnus | Marty Hamilton
In March 2025, Marty Hamilton retired from Southern after serving more than 25 years
as the associate vice president for Financial Administration, a position he now holds
as emeritus. He came to Southern in October 1998 as the director of Property and Industry Development.
Marty began his professional career at Mesa Grande Academy in California in 1982, where he taught history, photography, and auto shop. He loved working with his colleagues and positively influencing young people for Jesus, and he’s still in touch with many of his students.
In 1988, he started working part time for a real estate investment company in San Bernardino County and soon became its president. He quickly adapted to making key land acquisitions, developing real estate, and managing retail and commercial properties. His role in the community gave him the experience of working with both local and county authorities, which allowed him and his wife, Carolyn, to open a shelter for homeless families in 1991. Many said this was impossible, but with God’s many miracles and the couple’s perseverance, Inland Temporary Homes was opened in a historical 1905 house. The organization continues to operate today as Inland Housing Solutions. Marty and Carolyn where both honored by the City of Loma Linda as “Citizens of the Year” for their service to the community.
In 1993, the couple decided to leave Southern California for rural Georgia to raise their two girls. He’d been working for a chemical company for five years when Gordon Bietz and Dale Bidwell, university vice president for Financial Administration, invited Carolyn and Marty to meet for dinner. After asking to see his résumé, they offered him a position. Marty hadn’t been looking for a job, but he thought maybe God was tapping him on the shoulder.
Marty quickly realized how special the campus of Southern was. He hadn’t gone to school here and didn’t know anyone, but he felt welcomed and was impressed by the beauty and coordinated facilities. He developed a zeal to protect and care for that, and he felt his calling was to improve student life. Amidst the hundreds of projects he worked on, the Bietz Center for Student Life stands out as the most meaningful. “I came to this position passionate about students and young people,” he says. “I love that building, because it’s central to our campus and student life.
The expansion of the campus with new buildings, renovations, and care of the campus grounds were all about the ardor of serving, and Marty feels honored to be part of the Southern family.
Ken Parsons
Honorary Alumnus
Ken Parsons’ early years were spent in Colorado where he learned to love the mountains and music. His mother was a fine pianist and organist, his father a trumpeter, and Ken followed in his dad’s footsteps. At 14, his family moved to Oregon, where both of those passions deepened.
He was in awe of his band director at Columbia Adventist Academy and made the decision to pursue music as a career. In 1983, he graduated from Walla Walla College (now University) with degrees in both music education and theology, along with a minor in speech communication. During academy and college, he spent five summers high in the Cascade Mountains at Big Lake Youth Camp, serving as counselor, archery instructor, and boys’ director.
Ken taught band at Redlands Junior Academy in California from 1983 to 1985. During this time, he performed in wind and jazz ensembles at the University of Redlands and gave numerous chamber and solo performances. Following this, he completed a master’s degree in brass performance at the University of Oregon.
From 1986 to 2000, Ken taught at Forest Lake Academy in Apopka, Florida. He grew the symphonic band to 72 members, and directed a student brass ensemble, percussion ensemble and brass quintet. Additionally, he formed the first jazz ensemble in an Adventist academy, which became a quite successful and popular group in central Florida. He developed an Enriched Honors in Music curriculum, which prepared musically-talented students to become university music majors. Additionally, he taught trumpet and directed the brass ensemble at Rollins College in nearby Winter Park. Most importantly, though, he met his wife Kristi, and their two children Kris and Kaarsten were born there. He did, however, miss the mountains.
In 2000, Ken was invited to teach at Southern. His primary responsibility—and great joy—was directing the Wind Symphony, seeking to enrich students through high-level engagement with significant literature for winds and percussion. With administrative encouragement, he formed the first officially-sponsored jazz ensemble in Adventist higher education. In an effort to further diversify the School of Music’s performance ensembles, he spearheaded the founding of Southern Steel, a Trinidadian steel pan ensemble—the only one in the Tennessee Valley. Additionally, he taught trumpet, as well as music education and music appreciation courses, and directed the Collegedale Brass Choir, an ensemble of university students and faculty, and community players.
Ken retired in May, after 26 years of service to Southern—the longest tenure of any band director in Southern’s history—and is enjoying traveling to his beloved mountains and finding all the best hiking spots around Collegedale.
Honorary Alumnus | Gary Patterson
Gary Patterson grew up in the Pacific Northwest. He met Rachel Ireland while attending
Auburn Academy in Washington, after which they attended Walla Walla College and were
married in 1957. Following graduation in 1959, Gary enrolled in the Adventist seminary
at Potomac University in Washington, D.C., and graduated in June of 1960 with a Master
of Arts in Religion.
Beginning ministry in the Idaho Conference of Seventh-day Adventists in June of 1960, he served in pastoral ministry and evangelism in various locations until departing for the Upper Columbia Conference, where he served first as youth pastor in College Place, Washington, and then established a ministry as university campus chaplain and pastor at the University of Idaho and Washington State University. In 1967, he was appointed Youth Department director of the Conference.
In 1971, Gary was called to serve as pastor of the Collegedale Church of Seventh-day Adventists, where he had a meaningful impact on the campus of Southern Missionary College and is remembered fondly by those students. During that time, he entered a Doctor of Ministry program at Vanderbilt University, graduating in 1978.
Following the years at Southern, he served as Montana Conference secretary and ministerial director; pastor of the Walla Walla University Church; president of the Georgia-Cumberland and Pennsylvania Conferences; administrative assistant to the president of the North American Division and chief of staff for NAD personnel; and general field secretary of the General Conference.
Retiring from church employment in 1999, he served as vice president for mission and ministry in the Home Care Division of Adventist Health System until 2004. During the next 16 years, he served as interim senior pastor of 14 major congregations in Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Virginia, Maryland, and Illinois.
Gary has authored multiple denominational articles and publications as well as three books: Find It in the Yellow Pages, Minister’s Handbook, and Elder’s Handbook.
Cherie (Merchant) Smith, ’91
Lady of the Year
Cherie Smith has devoted her life to serving others through ministry, encouragement, and prayer.
After moving to Collegedale in 1981, she joined the team at Southern, where she served in a variety of administrative roles across Student Finance, Alumni and Public Relations, and Academic Administration. While working at Southern, she took the opportunity to pursue her own education, earning a Bachelor of Science in office administration with a minor in behavioral science in 1991. Throughout her years at Southern and beyond, she has been known for her deep love for God and people and her passion for helping others strengthen their relationship with Him.
In 1996, Cherie accepted a call to pastoral ministry as Community Chaplain at Collegedale Church of Seventh-day Adventists, beginning a ministry that would span 25 years. She later served as pastor of Nurture and Prayer at College View Church in Lincoln, Nebraska, before returning to the Collegedale Church as an associate pastor when the couple moved back.
Throughout her ministry, she was known for her compassionate care, support for those who were grieving, and dedication to helping others experience God’s love and faithfulness. Prayer was always at the center of her ministry, as well as an unrelenting commitment to service. She’s the kind of pastor who would show up to the hospital at 5:30 a.m. to pray with a church member before they went into surgery.
Cherie also faithfully supported Adventist education. For 18 years she served alongside her husband during his leadership of two Adventist institutions and, beginning in 2016, as Southern’s First Lady. She especially cherished opportunities to connect with alumni and support students, faculty, and staff through prayer and encouragement. One expression of that care became a beloved Southern tradition as she baked thousands of homemade cookies to welcome students during registration.
Whether through ministry, volunteer service, hospitality, or personal encouragement, Cherie’s life has reflected a steadfast commitment to faith, service, and caring for others. In retirement, she continues to encourage those around her through personal notes, birthday cards, and a book she is writing about how prayer has deepened her understanding of the unfathomable love of God. Her lifelong dedication to helping people and connecting them with God remains at the heart of all she does.
Lady of the Year | Barbara (Holland) Wear, ’62
Barbara Wear’s life of service has been marked by faith, resilience, and a deep commitment to education and mission. She graduated from Southern Missionary College in 1962 with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education, launching a lifelong career of teaching and ministry that has touched lives across the globe.
Early in her career, Barbara taught in the Kentucky-Tennessee, Georgia-Cumberland, and Carolina conferences. She also served four years in Japan as a teacher for missionary children. While there, she witnessed firsthand the challenges and opportunities of mission service during the Vietnam conflict. American servicemen stationed in Japan often found refuge at the mission, and Barbara recalls the joy of helping to provide meals, fellowship, and encouragement. Those years shaped her vision of mission service as a calling that blesses both those who give and those who receive.
In 1969, Barbara married Cecil Wear, ’72, on Sand Mountain, and together they embraced a life of ministry and service. She worked at the Tennessee Department of Welfare while supporting her husband’s studies in accounting. (She jokes that she earned her PhT, or Putting Hubby Through.) The two later served in diverse settings, including Battle Creek Academy in Michigan and Ethiopian Adventist College in Kuyera. They also conducted evangelistic meetings in Kenya. For three decades, they made their home in the beautiful Sequatchie Valley of Tennessee. When Cecil retired, the couple moved to Hawaii, where Barbara treasured life in “paradise” until Cecil’s sudden passing from a heart attack after only three years there.
Though she thought her years of active service might be behind her, Barbara soon discovered otherwise. Returning to Tennessee, she joined her son Tony Wear, ’96, and his family and reconnected with a former student, Don MacLafferty, ’89, who invited her to partner in ministry through InDiscipleship and the General Conference initiative Back to the Altar. This opened new doors of service that extended far beyond what she imagined.
Most recently, in 2024, Barbara answered a call to volunteer in Cambodia, where she and Harriet (Finney) Snyder, ’68, spent four months teaching English to middle and high school students in Siem Reap. The experience was both challenging and deeply rewarding, reaffirming her belief that God continues to open doors at every stage of life.
Barbara’s legacy reflects the spirit of a true servant leader—one who has poured her energy, compassion, and faith into lifting up others, whether in classrooms at home, mission fields abroad, or new frontiers of ministry.