Friends,

I’m writing to share the sad news of the death on May 10 of Jim Newlin ’60, who managed business affairs at Guilford College for 28 years and was an active and influential resident of the Guilford community throughout his life.

The son of Guilford professors Algie I. Newlin '21 and Eva M. Newlin, Jim graduated from Guilford with a degree in Chemistry, worked as a chemist and then returned to the College in 1965 to work in the business office. He was a director, vice president, and ultimately chief financial officer.

Later in his career, he held leadership positions with Eastern Music Festival and the African American Dance Festival in Durham.

Jim co-founded New Garden Friends School with Bruce Stewart ’61 in 1971. They believed that educating children from differing backgrounds together in a positive, affirming and safe environment would be an important step toward battling the fear and hatred of racism.

He was a co-founder of the West Friendly Avenue/Guilford College Alliance, which served to advocate for the preservation of the Guilford College community and its significant historical importance. He worked tirelessly against threatened incursions of a major boulevard through the Guilford campus.

Jim helped found Friends Center on campus, and was instrumental in establishing Friends Homes, a retirement community with two campuses near the College, in the 1960s, and the Guilford College YMCA in the 1980s.

Guilford honored Jim with the Charles C. Hendricks ’40 Distinguished Service Award in 2017.

Please hold his sister, Jo Poole, and extended family and friends in the Light at this time of loss of this remarkable Guilfordian.

Sincerely,
Kyle Farmbry
President