Josephine B. Abney

The Josephine B. Abney Scholarship was established in September 2006 by Josephine Abney, a long-time Lander friend. In recognition of her great service to the University and to the Greenwood community, Lander University conferred an honorary doctor of humane letters degree on Josephine during commencement ceremonies on May 6, 2006.

Josephine served on the Lander Tower Leadership Committee for the University’s $15 million Comprehensive Campaign. She also served on The Lander Foundation Board and on the University’s Board of Visitors. She provided funding for Lander’s John Sydney Abney Media Arts Room, named in memory of her late husband, and the Abney Garden, adjacent to the office of the President, is named in her honor.

At the time this scholarship was established, Josephine was serving on the American Choral Directors Foundation Board and an active member in Unit I Garden Club. She is also a life member of the National Council of State Garden Clubs, the National Nature Conservancy, the South Carolina Historical Society, the Columbia Museum of Art, and the Waring Library of the Medical University of South Carolina. Josephine is a founding member of the Baptist College of Charleston and Greenwood Woman’s Club. In 2006, Self Regional Healthcare recognized Josephine’s ongoing commitment to the Greenwood hospital and to health services by dedicating the Josephine B. Abney Women’s Center at Self Regional in her honor.

A recipient of the Order of the Palmetto, Josephine was instrumental in establishing a professorship of oncology at the Medical University of South Carolina, a distinguished lectureship at Columbia College, and a fellowship supporting women-centered research at the University of South Carolina. She is also a patron of the Greenwood County Arts Council, Cambridge Academy, Connie Maxwell Children’s Home, and The Museum. Josephine is a recipient of the Hospice of Greenwood Founder’s Award. She served on the Board of Directors for the S.C. Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities and was an honorary national chairman of the International Piano Competition in Palm Beach, Florida.