Martha Cooley, a longtime and much-loved Guilford professor, died Jan. 15 in Greensboro. She is one of three well-known Guilfordians who passed in the last month, following Carol Stoneburner and Marcy Maury ’74.
Martha was Charles A. Dana Professor of History emerita. She served as vice president and academic dean from 1995-2000, working full-time with the faculty, academic support administrators and their staff. During her tenure as Dean she spearheaded the overhaul of the general education curriculum, and consistently strengthened the role of faculty as a whole in developing the general education curriculum.
She was a model for others in balancing work and family commitments, and devoted her career and deep compassion to Guilford. Her love of hospitality, which she shared with her husband Jim Cooley, fostered a warm sense of community that many vividly recall and aspire to uphold.
In 38 years on the Guilford faculty, from 1965-2003, Martha’s teaching was wide-ranging – from Russian and Soviet history to 19th and 20th century European history and modern world history.
She directed the College’s Study Abroad program (now called Global and Off-campus Initiatives) from 1987-92 and again from 2001-02. While director, she guided the development of the Guadalajara, Munich, Siena, China, Brunnenburg, Japan and Ghana semester programs.
Martha led the London semester in 1985 and participated in the Brunnenburg semester in 2001 that was led by Jim, a professor of History at UNCG. She led a summer trip to Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union in 1976, prior to the startup of semester programs.
She and Jim also led an experience for students, taking them on a train trip from Saint Petersburg (Leningrad) to Beijing, crossing both Russia and China.
Marcy Maury '74, a dedicated volunteer who served on the Alumni Association Board of Directors as well as the Friends of the Library and the Quaker Club boards, died Jan. 6 in Greensboro.
Marcy was a longtime reunion organizer for her class since 1984 and was helping with preparations for next year’s 50th reunion of the Class of 1974. She volunteered as an American Sign Language interpreter for Guilford's Commencement ceremony for a number of years.
In 2020, the College honored Marcy with its oldest Alumni Association award, the Charles C. Hendricks '40 Distinguished Service Award. A celebration of her life was held Jan. 11, at Dana Auditorium on campus.
Carol Stoneburner, founder and coordinator of Women’s Studies and a former director of Faculty Development at the College, died Dec. 28 in Asheville. 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. A live stream of the service will be available at this link. 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.