Friends,

I’m writing with the sad news of the passing of Carol Stoneburner, founder and coordinator of Women’s Studies and a former director of Faculty Development at Guilford College, in Asheville, N.C., on Dec. 28. In her notable career as a teacher and scholar, Carol made life-changing impacts on generations of students.

Close friends and colleagues have written a beautiful message about Carol. They describe her as adventurous, boldly inquiring, inclusive and enticing. They write about her warmth and wry sense of humor and remember her as a consummate listener and mentor. I regret I did not have an opportunity to get to know this beloved Guilfordian.

Carol and John Stoneburner, her husband of 63 years and E.F. Craven Professor of Religious Studies emeritus, embodied Guilford’s commitment to the liberal arts, social justice and great, undergraduate teaching. They team-taught a course called "Women, Body, Voice" that was utterly transformative for many students.

Guilford is well known for the life-long bonds between faculty and students. Hundreds of alumni and colleagues attended a reunion and celebration on campus when the Stoneburners retired in 2006. Those connections remain strong to the present day.

A memorial service for Carol is planned Saturday, Feb. 4, at 2 p.m. at Warren Wilson Presbyterian Church on the campus of Warren Wilson College, 101 Chapel Lane Swannanoa, N.C., 28778. A live stream of the service will be available at this link. There will be a reception following the service. There will be a reception following the service. Friends are invited to gather after the memorial service from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Highland Brewing Company, the 12 Old Charlotte Highway, Asheville, N.C., location. If you would like to contact John Stoneburner, please write to him at 12 Moreview Road, Asheville, N.C., 28803.

Please join me in holding John, their son, Stephen Stoneburner ’95, and his wife, Jessa, and family and friends in the Light.

Warmly,
Kyle Farmbry
President