Furman mourns loss of student Ava DeVine ’21
Monday, October 12, 2020
Dear Furman Community,
It is with deep sadness and a heavy heart that I share with you that Ava DeVine, a senior from Charlotte, N.C., passed away yesterday following an accident at her family’s Lake Keowee home.
Ava was an exceptional person and a bright light to anyone who knew her. A Bell Tower scholarship awardee, Ava was an active member of Zeta Tau Alpha and a health sciences major who had already been active in health care fields. She spent the spring semester studying away in London as a radiology intern, and had aspirations after graduation of helping people through health care. Her sister, Liza DeVine, is a sophomore at Furman.
On behalf of the university, I extend our most heartfelt condolences to Ava’s family and her many friends and loved ones. There is nothing I can say that will fully express our great sorrow.
To offer a time and place to grieve and honor the memory of Ava, the Memorial Candle and a space for memorial notes are available on the steps of Daniel Chapel. We invite the Furman community to come, sit, talk and support one another in a safe, supportive and socially distanced way.
Furman is a close and caring community, and such a loss impacts all of us and reminds us how fragile life can be. It is important that we care for one another in our grief and seek help if we need it. If you need support, please contact the following offices. More resources for dealing with grief and loss are available here, with additional help available from these offices:
Office of Spiritual Life: 864-294-2133
Counseling Center: 864-294-3031
Student Life Office: 864-294-2202
We are reaching out to those who most closely knew Ava to provide counseling and support, and plan to hold other gatherings virtually later this week. We will share more information on this and on funeral and memorial services when that becomes available.
Please take a moment now and in the coming days to give thanks for Ava’s life and to remember her time with us. It is my hope that you will find peace and comfort during this difficult time.
Sincerely,
Elizabeth Davis
President