Published on November 13, 2023 by Dakota Rice  
Eubanks Family

Samford University is blessed to have supportive and involved alumni like Sandy ’81 and Steve ’81 Eubanks. After already having one endowed scholarship in honor of Sandy Eubanks’ father, they decided to endow one this year in honor of Steve Eubanks’ parents, Barbara ’70 and William ’70 Eubanks.

A small ceremony was held to celebrate the establishment of this scholarship in honor of Barbara Eubanks and in memory of William Eubanks. Three generations of Eubanks alums were in attendance along with friends and Samford faculty and staff, who were able to express their gratitude for the Eubanks family.

The Rev. William S. and Barbara Eubanks Endowed Scholarship was established to support students with expressed interest in entering Christian ministry, especially married students. Steve Eubanks reminisced about living in married student housing when his father was a Samford student.

“Samford was so pivotal in our family’s life,” shared Steve Eubanks. “For my parents coming here as young married students with me and my brothers, this was an incredibly important place in our young lives. So, we wanted to do something in honor of my parents because we benefitted, ourselves, from ministerial scholarships. We wanted to do something for future generations to honor our parents.”

William Eubanks, who went to be with the Lord in 2014, was a lifelong pastor, serving others faithfully in the name of Christ, and felt his ministry was founded on the education and principles gained from his education at Samford. Barbara Eubanks became an English teacher, author and speaker, publishing seven books over the last 20 years. Those books include devotionals, church humor and even a cookbook.

Seeing how the Eubanks’ lives and ministries have flourished since their days at Samford, Steve Eubanks offered words of wisdom and encouragement to students who may enter their education with a spouse or a family.

“Even though this may be a tough time of life, you are setting an example for others,” explained Steve Eubanks. “I would say that you have to be organized, but you also have to remain incredibly open to go in the direction where God leads you because many times those directions are unexpected. Make yourself available to God’s direction and trust him with that.”

 
Samford is a leading Christian university offering undergraduate programs grounded in the liberal arts with an array of nationally recognized graduate and professional schools. Founded in 1841, Samford is the 87th-oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. Samford enrolls 6,101 students from 45 states, Puerto Rico and 16 countries in its 10 academic schools: arts, arts and sciences, business, divinity, education, health professions, law, nursing, pharmacy and public health. Samford fields 17 athletic teams that compete in the tradition-rich Southern Conference and ranks 6th nationally for its Graduation Success Rate among all NCAA Division I schools.