A Tribute to Ed Christman
Tuesday, August 2nd, 2011 by Carolyn Christman
Frank Wood ’64
One day our children asked, about your hair,
‘”‘Is it so white because he is so old?”
“‘No, no, it’s always been like that,” we said.
“When we were young and still in college, long
Before you were conceived, except in thought,
Yes, even then his hair was white as snow.”
Our children took this as evidence to mean
Not that your hair was white despite your youth
But that because your hair was always white,
You must be always old. “Ancient of Days!
The Everlasting One. Aha! He’s God!”
Upon reflection, it is more your eye,
Incapable of fine detail, whereby
You show resemblance to the Diety:
Our flaws are pardoned from your scrutiny.
Your mobile eyebrows squint from present lights,
Confirming those more distant, nobler sights
That then attract us from our present stays
Toward journeys that define our length of days.
December 2003
Add Comment
Knowing Ed and Jean
Tuesday, November 23rd, 2010 by Carolyn Christman
Roger Pearman ’78 and ’81
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
Add CommentMarrying Up
Friday, August 27th, 2010 by Carolyn Christman
Stan Dotson
One of my greatest blessings in life was to marry Kim, which meant I married into the Christman family. Some of the greatest pleasures we have had over the years have involved traveling each summer to the Baptist Peace Fellowship annual summer gathering, enabling us to visit cities all across the U.S. and Canada.
What amazed me about Jean was her incredible knowledge of politics, and her extreme confidence in her analysis of any current situation, which was always backed up by well-researched facts. That is to say, it was virtually impossible to ever win an argument over politics with her! And she was equally passionate and knowledgeable about art, so we had a wonderful guide through all the many art museums we visited in these cities.
What amazed me about Ed was how far-flung his impact and his relationships with WFU people are. It almost became a joke, that we couldn’t go anywhere in the world without someone coming up and speaking to Ed. He is hard to lose in a crowd, after all. But time and time again, people would approach him and talk about what he had meant to them at Wake Forest, and they would recount a story or two to illustrate. And I was amazed and continue to be amazed at how his charisma is inter-generational in its reach. He is equally comfortable and at home talking with WFU alumni in their 70s and 80s and with current students in their late teens. And I’ve witnessed in recent years that his charisma — and Jean’s as well — reaches further down the age bracket, as they delight in their play with grandson Francisco. When Francisco was younger, Ed could spend hours on the floor playing blocks and talking gibberish with him.
I “married up” for sure, and have received blessing upon blessing from that stroke of good fortune. Stan Dotson, In Our Elements, Fairview, NC
Add Comment