Dr. Terry Fern, Gardner-Webb Professor Emeritus of Fine Arts, Passed Away on Sept. 14, 2024

Musician Remembered for Service to the Lord, Love for His Family and Sharing His Talents

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.—Dr. Terry Fern is remembered for the ways he served the Lord, cherished his wife and family, and joyfully shared his musical talent with others. Fern, professor emeritus of fine arts at Gardner-Webb University, passed away on Sept. 14, 2024. He retired from GWU in 2010 after a 30-year career in the fine arts department.

In addition to teaching voice, musical theatre and fine arts, Fern was also the director of the GWU Opera Theatre. Fern’s commitment to the opera pioneered an effort to introduce elementary, middle, and high school students to this style of musical theatre. He founded and conducted Gardner-Webb’s annual “Student Day at the Opera,” for 25 years. By 2015, nearly 30,000 students had been given the opportunity to experience the art form.

Professor of Music and GWU director of Orchestral Activities Dr. Patricia Sparti said in a note to the family on Facebook, “The world has lost a great man, Dr. Terry Fern. Dr. Fern was a great mentor for me when I came (to Gardner-Webb) as chair in 2002. He was so kind, and so funny, and full of information. He was also a great bass baritone … I really loved when he and Patricia Harrelson (professor emerita) sang with the orchestra. And, I loved all the operas he directed. Dr. Fern loved the Lord and loved his family, and that was so evident in everything he did.”

Fern held many other positions at Gardner-Webb, including chair of the Department of Fine Arts, professor of applied voice, stage director of GWU Opera Theatre, lighting/stage director of GWU Theatre Productions, set/stage designer of GWU Opera Theatre Productions, set/stage designer for GWU Theatre Productions, director of Carillon Activities, GWU Carilloneur of the GWU Hollifield Carillon, and was a professor of music for the degree completion program. 

Professor Emerita of Music Carolyn Billings, of Boiling Springs, taught with Fern during his three decades at Gardner-Webb. “For most of that time my studio was directly across from his, so I sometimes was able to hear his beautiful baritone voice,” she reflected. “Terry meant so much to his voice students as both teacher and mentor. He made a great contribution through his opera productions, not only to Gardner-Webb students but to students all over Cleveland County with his Student Day at the Opera. Terry’s commitment of his time and energy to the fine arts department through his teaching  and his work as department chair was greatly appreciated by his fellow faculty members.”   

And while serving Gardner-Webb, Fern was also a worship leader for many churches, such as First Baptist Church of Gaffney, S.C., Elizabeth Baptist Church and Central United Methodist Church, both of Shelby, N.C. He was also an active member of Elizabeth Baptist for 38 years.

A 1966 graduate of Oklahoma Baptist University, Fern served in the U.S. Marine Corps in Vietnam before earning his Master of Music at the University of Louisville, Ky., and Doctor of Musical Arts at the University of North Texas in Fort Worth.

He and his wife, Linda, were married 55 years. They have two children, Jennifer Stec and husband Tim of Lancaster, Ky., and Jeremy Fern and wife Ginger of Shelby. He will also be missed by his four grandchildren, Hannah Miller and husband Titus, Raigan, Bryant, and Colin, and great-granddaughter, Leisel Charlotte.

His son, Jeremy, wrote a tribute to his dad on Facebook, “He always said, ‘Nothing ventured, nothing gained,’ and lived to experience new little and big adventures. He would talk of our IQ but he meant ‘imagination quotient’ to always challenge us how to use our imagination more in life. Fishing, playing golf, and landscaping were some of his absolute favorite pastimes. If you knew him, you knew his high-pitched laugh and smile. For me, I’ll just miss the way he called me ‘Tiger’ and the father/son dates for movies and steak dinners. I loved my dad.”

In his emeritus profile article, Fern stated he wanted to be remembered as a “diligent, caring, Christ-oriented professor known for sharing his heart, experiences, and personal motivations via the instruction of music, art, and theatre. May I inspire in others an excitement and love of God’s creations and revelations via the fine arts.”

A celebration of life will be held at Elizabeth Baptist Church in Shelby, N.C., at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. The service will be followed by a reception in the Christian Life Center. The full obituary is available here.

Gardner-Webb University is North Carolina’s recognized leader in private, Christian higher education. A Carnegie-Classified Doctoral/Professional University, GWU is home to nine colleges and schools, more than 80 undergraduate and graduate majors, and a world-class faculty. Located on a beautiful 225-acre campus in Boiling Springs, N.C., Gardner-Webb prepares graduates to impact their chosen professions, equips them with the skills to advance the frontiers of knowledge, and inspires them to make a positive and lasting difference in the lives of others. Ignite your future at Gardner-Webb.edu.