In Memoriam

Chester M. Hedgepeth Jr. (1937-2009)

Chester Hedgepeth, an associate professor of English and director of the African language program at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, has died at the age of 72. Dr. Hedgepeth served on the university faculty for 26 years.

A graduate of Blackburn College in Carlinville, Illinois, Hedgepeth went on to earn a master’s degree from Wesleyan University and an educational doctorate from Harvard University. During his long teaching career he was a member of the faculty at Virginia Union University, Macalester College, the College of St. Thomas, and Virginia Commonwealth University.

Henry Ogedegbe (1946-2009)

Henry Ogedegbe, an associate professor at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, died in a hospital in Hackettstown, New Jersey. He was 63 years old.

A native of Nigeria, Dr. Ogedegbe was a graduate of Linfield College in McMinnville, Oregon. He earned a master’s degree in biology from Central Connecticut State University and a Ph.D. from Union Institute in Cincinnati.

Earlier in his career he taught at Florida Gulf Coast University. His research interests included West Nile virus and heart and renal disease in African Americans.

Jasmine Lynn (1990-2009)

Jasmine Lynn, a 19-year-old sophomore at Spelman College in Atlanta, was shot and killed by a stray bullet as she returned to campus after a visit to nearby Clark Atlanta University. A fight occurred on the street between students at Clark Atlanta and some nonstudents. At least five shots were fired and one hit Lynn in the chest.

Lynn was from Kansas City, Missouri, and was a graduate of Lincoln College Preparatory Academy. At Spelman she was majoring in psychology and minoring in business.

Beverly Daniel Tatum, president of Spelman College, stated, “Words cannot express the sadness I feel about the tragic loss of Jasmine’s life, the result of senseless violence.”

Copyright © 2009. The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education. All rights reserved.