Seven SC State Graduates featured in BellSouth African-American calendar
ORANGEBURG, SC — This year, BellSouth’s annual South Carolina African-American History Calendar features seven South Carolina State University Alumni: Etu “Douglas” Evans, ’92; Curtis B. Inabinett Sr., ‘54, ‘60; the Jarvis Brothers; and Dr. M. Maceo Nance Jr., ‘49. Evans, Inabinett, the Jarvis Brothers and Nance (posthumously) were honored on the evening of October 18 during a special ceremony at the Koger Center for the Arts in Columbia, S.C.
Etu “Douglas” Evans, a 1992 graduate of South Carolina State, made a name for himself through his unique shoe designs which have adorned the feet of many high profile celebrities, including Halle Berry, Beyoncé, Erykah Badu, Lil’ Kim, and supermodels Ana Hickman, Tyra Banks, Iman, and Roshumba Futher. He is also the first African-American to successfully compete in the high-end shoe design market.
Evans is also a motivational speaker and an adjunct professor in the Fashion Department at Berkeley College in White Plains, N.Y. where he teaches product knowledge. He has been featured in a number of publications including Jet, Essence, and Black Enterprise.
As a member of the Charleston County Council, Curtis Inabinett Sr. has dedicated much of his career to public service. His vision is to become the best he can be through God, his family, and his country. Inabinett is the manager of SC Sea Island Farmer Cooperative in Ravenel, S.C. Prior to serving on the Charleston County Council, Inabinett served on the South Carolina General Assembly for nine years, as mayor of Ravenel for eight years, and a member of the Charleston County Election Commission for 13 years.
In addition to his public service, Inabinett also spent time in the classroom. He served as vice principal and principal at R.D. Schroder Middle School in Yonges, S.C., and as a teacher at Baptist Hill High School in Yonges Island, Central High School in Cross, S.C., and North District High School in Varnville, S.C.
For the Jarvis Brothers, Anthony, ‘62, ‘69, Donald, ’73, Reginald, Rogers, ‘67, and Ulysses, ’64, singing has been a way of life for more than 40 years. The famous quintet has performed at a number of venues including the Apollo Theater in Harlem, N.Y., the Black Arts Festival in Atlanta, Ga., the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., and before Nobel Peace Prize winner Bishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa at the Global Ministries of the United Methodist Church in Louisville, Ky.
As children, the five brothers were not allowed to hang-out at night, so they used that time to perform for their parents and neighbors. Today, the Jarvis Brothers can still be seen performing their Jubilee style music at festivals, churches, schools, and conventions in Orangeburg and around the State.
Dr. M. Maceo Nance Jr., was a pioneer who influenced many lives as student union director, business manager, the first vice president for business and finance, and the fifth president of South Carolina State University.
Nance, not only had an impact on students, but he also had a tremendous impact on landscape of the University, where he was responsible for adding the following facilities: Sojourner Truth Hall, Martin Luther King Jr. Auditorium, Nance Hall, Queens Village, Mitchell Hall, I.P. Stanback Museum & Planetarium, Crawford-Zimmerman Service Complex, and Belcher Hall.
Also during Nance’s tenure, he created the Faculty Senate, the Quarter Century Club, the Presidential Scholar award, and 20 academic degree programs were added, including the doctorate degree program in education.
For more information on the calendar or how you can receive a copy, call (803) 401-2247, or visit their website at www.scafricanamerican.com.