Edith L. Markham

Born on February 20, 1924, in Apex, North Carolina, she was the daughter of Leona and Excell Markham. Edith was the oldest of nine children and grew up on the family farm in Apex. From an early age she displayed a love for learning, reading, and teaching following the example of her mother and grandmother. One of her earliest memories was gathering her younger brothers and sisters conducting classes for them, foreshadowing a remarkable lifetime devoted to education.

As a teenager, Edith trusted Christ as her Savior during a church meeting conducted by students from Bob Jones College. Sensing God's call upon her life, she chose to pursue a Christian education and enrolled at Bob Jones College in Cleveland, Tennessee, in 1941. She graduated in 1945 with a major in religion, a minor in English, and additional studies in Spanish and education. Immediately following graduation, Edith accepted an invitation to teach at Bob Jones Academy, beginning what would become more than five decades of faithful service.

In 1950, she earned a Master of Arts degree in English from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and later pursued additional graduate studies in education and journalism.

For generations of students, Miss Markham was synonymous with excellence, dedication, and Christ-centered influence. She founded and served as the sponsor of The Triangle, the Academy newspaper, for 45 years. As an educator, she was known for her passion for literature, her engaging classroom instruction, and her personal investment in her students long after their graduation from the Academy. Her frequent trips to England provided a wealth of firsthand experiences and photographs that enriched her British literature lectures and made them engaging and memorable for generations of students.

Her influence extended beyond her own students. Through her work with the School of Education of Bob Jones University, she supervised and mentored scores of future teachers, helping shape Christian education far beyond the walls of the Academy. Her extraordinary commitment was reflected in a remarkable attendance record. During fifty-three years in the classroom, she missed only one day of teaching because of illness.

The honors she received reflected the esteem of students, colleagues, and alumni. She was uniquely honored by having two yearbooks dedicated to her: the BJU Vintage in 1967 and the BJA Academian in 1981. In 1995, the South Carolina Legislature proclaimed an "Edith Markham Day" in recognition of her educational contributions. During her 50th year of teaching, she received the Golden Apple Award which honors outstanding teachers in the Greenville area. In recognition of her profound influence on generations of students, BJA alumni and students jointly funded a multipurpose high school gathering commons—the Markham Center and Markham Square—named in her honor.

Looking back on her life, Edith reflected that God's call had led her to a ministry far greater than she could have imagined. Generations of students, teachers, and families are grateful for her unwavering commitment to Christ, her love for learning, and her faithful example.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Leona and Excell Markham, and her siblings: Mary Carolyn Markham, Excell Markham, Jr., James Archie Markham, Baswell Henderson Markham, Cecilia Inez Markham Poe, Zelota Markham McDonald, Robert Wade Markham, and Thomas Lowell Markham. She is survived by two sisters-in-law, Lois Smith Markham of High Point, NC and Esther Winslow Markham of Goldsboro, NC, 15 nieces and nephews, 15 grand nieces and nephews, and 14 great grand nieces and nephews.

Her life stands as a testimony to God's faithfulness and to the enduring influence of a teacher whose ministry shaped thousands of lives for Christ.

A memorial service celebrating her life will be held on Thursday, November 19, at 4:00 p.m. in the Collins Auditorium at Bob Jones Academy. A reception will follow in the Markham Center immediately after the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Bob Jones Academy, Bob Jones University, or Gospel Fellowship Association Missions.