Eddins Named 2016 Philanthropist Of The Year

Sara Jernigan Eddins from the Class of 1960 was named Limestone College’s 2016 Philanthropist of the Year during a luncheon in her honor on Friday, June 17, in her hometown of Lancaster, SC.

Eddins is a current member of the Limestone Board of Trustees who has assisted the College in numerous ways for many years. She has supported fundraising efforts for such projects as renovations to Dixie Lodge, Hamrick Hall of Science, and Winnie Davis Hall of History, and has given faithfully to the Limestone Fund. Eddins has also been an enthusiastic advocate of the efforts to construct a new campus library.

In addition, she has given to many of the College’s programs, including gifts to the Wind Ensemble and to the Saints Club, plus providing funding for educational student travel.

“She has been a great supporter of her alma mater," said Limestone President Dr. Walt Griffin. “We are very pleased and honored to have Sara as a member of the Limestone College Board of Trustees. And in her philanthropy, she has supported just about every area of the College.

“The passion and enthusiasm Sara has for education and Limestone College is contagious,” he continued. “Her dedication and leadership provide essential elements for our success. Through her vision, generosity, and devotion, Sara Eddins is the quintessential Limestone College trustee and philanthropist.”

As part of the celebration, Eddins was presented with a framed print of Limestone’s Curtis Administration Building.

“My Limestone experience created a desire within me to encourage young minds,” Eddins said. “I learned to explore and appreciate ideas of students and professors with other viewpoints. That led to my wish to contribute to my community by teaching and playing an active role in politics.”

A native of Mooresville, NC, Eddins’ career includes stints as a mathematics teacher at Lancaster High School, Faith Christian School, and The Catawba School. She was also a mathematics instructor at USC-Lancaster, where she was named Professor of the Year. Eddins was the co-owner of The Learning Place from 1989 through 2000.

She has served as a member of the Lancaster City Council, the Lancaster Planning Commission, Habitat for Humanity Board, the South Carolina Federation of Women's Clubs, the Lancaster County Council of the Arts, and other organizations.  

Eddins resides in Lancaster and she has six children.

Each year, Limestone College identifies a person whose generosity of spirit has touched the lives of many Limestone constituents and bestows the honor of Philanthropist of the Year. Previous honorees include Betsy M. & Robert S. Campbell (1993), Faye Carter ’51 & G. Preston Edwards (1994), Robert A. Dobson III (1995), Bright Gresham ’37 & E. Raymond Parker (1996), Mary Ellen Davis ’52 & C. Graham Hopper, Jr. (1997), Charles A. Copeland (1999), Wylie Hamrick (2000), Hugh Alonzo Cathey (2001), Martha Anne Martin Cline ’36 (2003), Jean Scott Byars ’52 (2004), Drada Pate Hoover ’59 (2005), Pat Plyler Watts ’55 (2006), Jay Hammett (2007), Margaret Poole Littlejohn ’50 (2008), J. Grady Randolph (2009), Pat Williams Willis ’55 (2010), Ann Beam Crotzer ’56 (2011), Ruby E. & John Travers (2012), William W. Brown (2013), and Virginia Bruorton Skinner ’50 (2015).