Ester Holder Howard Meditation Area dedicated at Campbell

     Campbell alumna and long time benefactor, Ester Holder Howard, was recognized Thursday, Oct. 6, at the dedication of the Thomas H. Folwell, Jr. Memorial Fountain at Campbell University. The Ester Holder Howard Meditation Area adjacent to the fountain was dedicated in her honor.
     A retired educator, Howard’s career spanned over 40 years and included two decades as a classroom teacher and over 20 years as supervisor for Elementary Education for Harnett County.
     “One of the most important functions of any addition to Campbell University is that it be something students can use,” Howard said. “I’ve already seen students enjoying the fountain, and I know it will be a great resource for many years to come.”
     Senior business administration major, Danielle Curtis, described her own personal experience at the fountain after her mother was diagnosed with cancer.
     “I would go for a run each night, then stretch out on a bench and just meditate,” she said. “It really helped me get through a difficult time.”
     Graduating from Campbell College in 1944, Howard went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts from Meredith College and a Master of Education in supervision and administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She continued her post graduate studies at North Carolina State University, Duke University and East Carolina University.
     As a Campbell benefactor, she has established three scholarships, one in memory of her late husband, Paul H. Johnson; one honoring her present husband, Richard W. Howard; and one Campbell Divinity School Scholarship. In addition, Howard has donated to multiple capital campaigns, including the D. Rich Hall renovation and the upcoming John W. Pope Jr. Convocation Center. She has also served several terms on the Presidential Board of Advisors and currently serves on the Campbell University Board of Trustees. In 1994, she was named a Distinguished Alumna of Campbell, and she received the prestigious Presidential Medallion in 2000.
     Architect Grover Meetze, founder of the College and University Design Division of Little & Associates architectural firm in Charlotte, designed the Folwell Fountain and Millennium Mall, an area connecting the business and fine arts buildings to main campus. The fountain and the Purvis Garden are the mall’s main features.


Photo Copy: Ester Holder Howard receives a framed photograph of the Folwell Fountain and meditation areas at the dedication on Thursday, Oct. 6. Also pictured is Dr. Jerry M. Wallace, president of Campbell University. (Photo by Bennett Scarborough)