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‘To say the least, this book is long overdue’ — SC State President Conyers on new book about First Ladies

Author: Amauri Allen|Published: October 31, 2024|All News, Faculty & Staff News

First Ladies
Front row from left: Dr. Monedia K. Elzey, Mary L. Smalls, Abbigail Hamilton Hugine, Frances Finney, Agatha Conyers, Carla Carpenter. Back row from left: Nick Nance, Jackston Nance, Dr. Andrew Hugine and Dr. Carl A. Carpenter.

ORANGEBURG, S.C. – During Homecoming, several First Ladies of South Carolina State University came together on the campus for the book signing of “Mr. President, I’ve Got Your Back! The First Ladies of South Carolina State University.”

The book was compiled by one of their own, Mrs. Abbiegail Hamilton Hugine, wife of former SC State President Andrew Hugine, and Mary Smalls, former dean of SC State’s Miller F. Whittaker Library.

“Being that I was a part of the legacy of the First Ladies, to see the interest of the book signing, the number of alums, and the people in the community really brings back a lot of memories and also give me hope for a better SCSU,” Mrs. Hugine said. “My major goal was when you bring students into the campus, they must leave with a degree- our goal was to make sure students graduated with a degree.”

Smalls said it was very exciting to delve deep into the history of the First Ladies who served the university, and she described the publication as “refreshing.”

For both the president and the university, the president’s spouse is essential. Presidents’ spouses offer fair evaluations of matters without any hidden agenda. Serving as First Lady carries many responsibilities that require the success of faculty, students, staff, programs, and other operations.

“To say the least, this book is long overdue,” current President Alexander Conyers said. “I speak from a place of love and admiration because of my dear partner, Agatha Youmans Conyers, has been my anchor throughout my adult life.”

The First Ladies of SC State honored in the book:

  • Anna Marie Hume Miller, 1896-1911, wife of founding President Thomas E. Miller.
  • Marion Raven Birnie Wilkinson, 1911-1932, wife of Dr. Robert Shaw Wilkinson, SC State’s second president.
  • Julia Elizabeth Allen Turner, 1950-1967, wife of Dr. Benner C. Turner, fourth president.
  • Julie Eta Washington Nance, 1968-1986, wife of Dr. M. Maceo Nance Jr. fifth president.
  • Sadie Burris Smith, 1986-1992, wife of Dr. Albert E. Smith, sixth president.
  • Parthelia Davis Carpenter, 1992, wife of Dr. Carl A. Carpenter, interim president.
  • Christine McGill Davis, 1996-2002, wife of Dr. Leroy Davis Sr., eighth president.
  • Frances Davenport Finney, 2002-2003, wife of Ernest A. Finney Jr., interim president.
  • Abbiegail Hamilton Hugine, 2003-2007, wife of Dr. Andrew Hugine, ninth president.
  • Diane Shaw Cooper, 2008-2012, wife of Dr. George E. Cooper, 10th president.
  • Monedia K. Elzey, 2013-2015, wife of Dr. Thomas J. Elzey, 11th president.
  • Agatha Youmans Conyers, 2021-present, Retired Col. Alexander Conyers, 13th president.

 

Four SC State First Ladies – Mrs. Finney, Mrs. Hugine, Dr. Elzey and Mrs. Conyers – attended the book signing at SC State’s Engineering and Computer Science Complex. Grandsons Nick and Jackston Milligan Nance represented the Nancy family, while the Coopers’ daughter, Carla Carpenter, accompanied her father.

Mrs. Hugine was accompanied at the book signing by her husband Dr. Andrew Hugine Jr., who was SC State’s ninth president.

During her tenure, Mrs. Hugine hosted social events on campus, four First Lady Scholarship luncheons, and often engaged with students. She assisted in fostering the university by joining and supporting her husband on many recruitment events and traveling to meet alumni. While serving as the first lady to SC State, she also balanced her role as an administrator.

Dr. Monedia Elzey was accompanied at the book signing by her husband, Dr. Thomas J. Elzey, SC State’s eleventh president. She was the only First Lady who earned a Ph.D.

“I am very proud to have been here and served and made a contribution over some point of time, I am very proud of it,” she said. “I appreciate the fact that this book was written because First Ladies do often times get overlooked and we do make a huge contribution when we’re here supporting our spouses.”

As First Lady, Dr. Monedia Elzey continued the tradition of hosting the First Lady’s Scholarship Luncheon, which aimed to raise funds for students and promote women’s advancement. She actively engaged with students on campus and sought ways to enhance their career prospects.

Mrs. Finney spent her life dedicated to education, young people and community outreach. During her brief tenure as SC State’s First Lady, Mrs. Finney organized and promoted the Bulldog Round-Up Committee and directed various campus beautification endeavors, including the addition of the grand gazebo at the center of campus.

Mrs. Conyers continues to contribute to the university’s success as the current First Lady. Her efforts have included the First Lady’s Scholarship Luncheon, the $1.25 million capital campaign for the university’s 125th anniversary and the Run the Yard 4K fitness challenge on the SC State campus.

Proceeds from “Mr. President, I’ve Got Your Back! The First Ladies of South Carolina State University” will be donated to the First Lady Scholarship at SC State. The book is available on Amazon.

SC State’s history also includes a woman president, Dr. Barbara R. Hatton, who served from 1993-1995 as the institution’s seventh president. Miller F. Whittaker, the university’s second president, and James E. Clark, the university’s 12th president, were unmarried.