Barbara '83 and John Beckford

For Barbara '83 and John Beckford, a decades-long relationship with Furman has cultivated a legacy that will live on forever. Collectively, the Beckfords have experienced Furman through the lens of not only a student and alumna (Barbara) and a faculty member and administrator for 43 years (John), but also as longtime annual donors, Paladin athletics fans, and parents of a Furman alumna, Piper Mensone Brinkley '02.

Through these varied perspectives, one common thread is the Beckfords' strong belief in The Furman Advantage and its impact:

"Furman has been able to recruit very special students—students who have a genuine thirst for knowledge, new experiences, and engagement with difficult issues. Under the mentorship of outstanding faculty and residential life staff, students grow and discover in ways that truly prepare them to become global citizens. It's nice to see this approach to education formalized and measured in such a way that our outcomes are not just anecdotal, but intentional and authentic."

The Beckfords recognized The Furman Advantage before it had a name, and they say it has enriched their entire family's lives. In turn, they want to help shape Furman's future with a gift through their will. The Beckfords hope their planned gift will help to establish a percussion music scholarship—the first of its kind at Furman. Having been the university's first full-time percussion instructor, John hopes that his family's gift will help recognize outstanding percussionists in a way that has not been done before.

Because of people like Barbara and John Beckford, Furman's future is bright. They have not only been part of the university's past and shaping what Furman is today, but they have also committed to creating a legacy that will provide new opportunities for students to experience The Furman Advantage for generations to come. Together with more than 1,000 other members of the Legacy Society, they are building Furman's future today.