The Lipscomb community gathered for a time of mourning, remembrance and encouragement in the Doris Swang Chapel Sunday night after the passing of student Jared Eubanks.
Eubanks died Monday, Sept. 7, after a lengthy illness. He was a senior nursing major from Hendersonville, Tennessee and lived in High Rise men’s residence hall.
Eubanks was also a member of men’s social club Sigma Iota Delta. Among several SID members in attendance was President Braden Davidson, who read a note from one of Eubanks’ close friends.
“Jared [Eubanks] was the type of person who would never think about himself,” he read from the note. “He put others first in everything he did and would go above and beyond for everyone, no matter how well he knew them.”
One of the ways Eubanks exhibited this trait was through his studies in Lipscomb’s School of Nursing. Dean of the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences Roger Davis said Eubanks’ life touched many on campus.
Davis shared that Eubanks had qualities that couldn’t be taught — empathy, compassion and love and desire to share his knowledge and skills with others. Davis said these are signs of a true professional in the health sciences field, but these qualities were not strangers to Eubanks.
“In the past year, he has taught our students, our faculty and our staff across campus, but particularly in the school of nursing, what it means to be a true professional,” Davis said. “He will continue to be an example for our school, our university and for every person who comes through our nursing program here.”
School of Nursing officials “pinned” Eubanks with a nursing pin and white coat — that all graduating nurses receive prior to graduation — as his health declined in recent weeks.
But even when his health was declining, fellow members of SID said that his faith in God remained strong.
“He had faith that was unshakable,” Davidson said. “No matter what cards he was dealt, he would buckle down and realize that God would do something great through those circumstances.”
Eubanks always had a smile on his face no matter the situation and shared his joy with others in such a profound way, according to Davidson.
“He exemplified everything that a Christian man should be, and he loved everyone and treated them in a way that the rest of us can strive to imitate,” Davidson said.
Mark Jent, alumnus and current sponsor of SID, said that he has never experienced an event that brought the SID brotherhood closer together than the sad events of last week.
“Not only did you cry out to God, but you cried out to each other,” Jent said.
Nearing the end of the memorial service, Student Life Senior Vice President Scott McDowell shared words of encouragement, reminding loved ones that Eubanks is with his creator.
“He was a man of faith, and now he’s a man of sight,” McDowell said. “He’s living in what he lived for.”