In Memoriam: Davis and Johnson

Maria Ragland Davis (’85 M.S., ’92 Ph.D.) and Adriel Johnson (’89 Ph.D.), both of Huntsville, Ala., were killed Feb. 12,  in a shooting at the University of Alabama-Huntsville (UAH). A breast cancer survivor, Davis was an assistant professor of biology who studied molecular biology and plant genetics. She had been at UAH since 2002. “Dr. Davis served as a source of inspiration to so many of us and will always be my role model,” UAH graduate student Talitha Caudle told The Huntsville Times.

Johnson was an associate professor of biology who conducted research in cell biology and nutritional physiology. A member of the UAH faculty since 1989, he worked to recruit minority students to the university. He was an active leader in the Boy Scouts and won the Silver Beaver, the highest volunteer award the organization offers.

The Davis family has requested scholarship donations in her memory to NC State’s A.M. Witherspoon Graduate Scholarship. Donations may be sent to Jason Gipe, Alumni Affairs, Campus Box 7503, Raleigh, NC 27695-7503. Checks should be made payable to the NC State Alumni Association. Gipe can be contacted at 515-0519 or jason_gipe@ncsu.edu. Credit card gifts can be made through the “giving” link at www.ncsu.edu. Select “other” for gift and specify the A.M. Witherspoon Graduate Scholarship. There is a space to note that the gift is in the memory of Maria Ragland Davis.