Home

Welcome!

This is a community-written biography of Ed and Jean Christman and their years at Wake Forest — come in and join us!

“It’s been such a gift working here.”  Ed Christman

Ed and Jean have been a part of the Wake Forest community for more than 60 years. Each arrived on the old campus in the late 1940s. They met in 1949 and married in 1952. Aside from Ed’s three years in seminary, they’ve spent their lives as part of Wake Forest, including Ed’s service as Assistant Chaplain and then University Chaplain. Now retired, Ed and Jean live only a few miles away from the campus and still enjoy spending time there.

Ed and Jean’s presence has always reflected a constancy of kindness, joy, perseverance, service, and a belief in progress as embodied in Wake Forest’s motto Pro Humanitate.

How can such lives be recorded?  In the summer of 2010, our family decided to create a community-written biography of Ed and Jean Christman. This biography will collect, share, and preserve stories that reflect the Christman spirit. The site is open, as a work-in-progress, so that Ed and Jean, and the Wake Forest community, can enjoy watching it grow.

Carolyn, Ron, Kim, and Stan

Christman family 2007: Ron Shehee, Kim Christman, Stan Dotson, Ed Christman, Jean Christman, Carolyn Christman, and Francisco Shehee

About the Site & the Community

This site is a place to read and discuss the Christmans’ biographies. Each page covers a specific period of time or theme in Ed and Jean’s lives. At the bottom of each page is a space to add comments about that topic. The Essays page is a collection of longer writings and stories. The Gallery page will include additional photographs, audio and video.

The Christman site is also the place to contribute your part to the this biography. Individual threads will be woven together by the editors to create the story of the Christman years at Wake Forest. Carolyn Christman is the lead writer and editor.

There are three ways to participate:

(1) Add comments at the bottom of any page;

(2) Send an email message through the link below;

(3) Send a regular letter to the mail address below, and your story will be posted by the editors.

This website is an independent, family-owned enterprise. We welcome your suggestions about the site and how it might be improved.

Contact

Email the site editor

Email the webmaster

Regular mail: Christman Web, 6938 Lee St, Mebane NC 27302 USA

Comments

  • From Al Hartness on October 19, 2010 at 9:15 am

    If i had not had (bad English–yes I am a ’61 grad of Wake) Ed, I probably would not be a graduate. MacLeod Bryan shook me up so bad that I had to confer w Ed to make sure I had any religion left. Well actually it was all to the good to make me sweat and think. Ed had a way about him that left you w the impression you were still a worthwhile person, at least human. With all the girl problems I had too, it was reassuring that I wasn’t completely off my gourd, although now maybe I need to have another conference with him being married to Shirley for over 45 years for the Grace of God. Anyway, thank you Ed for all you have meant to me and all Wake students that have benefited from your counsel, concern, and love!! God Bless you!!! Al Hartness, MD ’61, ’65

  • From Roger Pearman on November 22, 2010 at 2:06 am

    Because Ed and Jean have so important to my life all I can do is summarize! I am so grateful for all they have meant to me and my wife, Angela. When I arrived on the campus of Wake Forest in 1974, Ed welcomed me—as he did for thousands—to the first days of Freshmen orientation. The Chaplain’s Office hosted a student retreat at Camp Hanes which was my introduction both to Wake and Ed’s thoughtful and caring friendship. Ed performed our wedding ceremony in Davis Chapel on September 24, 1983. He performed the ceremony for my mother and step-father. Ed was so generous to do the eulogy for my father who died in 1984. Through the years, Ed and Jean gave us wonderful books to stimulate thought (Bechner series). And though our work and growing family meant we haven’t seen as much of each other as we would like but perhaps now that our adult children are now on their own journey we will get to visit. So we can enjoy their company. All the qualities of thoughtful caring, splendid questioning, warm friendship make Ed and Jean among the most important people in our life. We would like to think that the lessons they have taught are also lessons our kids have learned. Thank you Ed and Jean for all of the kindness through the years. Roger Pearman ’78 and ’81

You must be logged in to post a comment.