Lipscomb community mourns the loss of student Jared Eubanks
Kim Chaudoin | 615.966.6494 |
The Lipscomb community is mourning the loss today of senior Jared Eubanks, a nursing major from Hendersonville, Tennessee. He died Sept. 7 following a lengthy illness.
The Lipscomb community will gather Sunday evening, Sept. 13, at 8 p.m. in the Ezell Center chapel for a memorial service and a time of prayer and remembrance.
Eubanks was a member of Sigma Iota Delta social club, was part of the veteran services program, lived in on campus and also worked in the Student Activities Center. He was also passionate about nursing. When applying to the Lipscomb nursing program, Eubanks told Beth Youngblood, executive associate dean of the School of Nursing, that he wanted to become a nurse so he could help others. He would have received his nursing pin and graduated in May 2016 with his nursing degree from Lipscomb.
Two weeks ago as it became apparent that Eubanks’ fight against illness was nearing an end, Youngblood presented Eubanks with an honorary nursing pin. The nursing pinning ceremony is a traditional rite of passage for all nurses as they graduate from college and enter their professions. At the ceremony, Eubanks was presented with an honorary white coat and pin.
"He wanted so badly to become a nurse so he could help others,” said Youngblood. “I told him at his pinning ceremony that, ‘you are going to see your goal through. How you've handled your illness and worked so hard through it inspires us all. You have taught us with your strength, faith and courage, and that will be lived out in your classmates for years to come."
Eubanks’ sister, Shanna, graduated from Lipscomb’s nursing program in 2010. She is a nurse at the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt in Nashville.
The Lipscomb community came together at the Gathering on Tuesday, Sept. 8, for a time of prayer, remembrance and singing to remember Eubanks. A cross is located in the lobby of the nursing building where students, faculty and staff may place notes of remembrance, which will be presented to his family. Youngblood said that Eubanks will also be remembered in a special way at the next pinning ceremony. University officials are also planning on planting a tree and establishing a scholarship in his memory in the near future.
Visitation with the family is Thursday, Sept. 10, from 4-8 p.m. and a memorial service is Friday, Sept. 11, at 5 p.m. Both are at the Hendersonville Church of Christ, located at 107 Rockland Road, Hendersonville, Tennessee 37075.