Christopher Columbus Fordham III

Dr. Christopher C. Fordham, III, 81, died peacefully on August 14, 2008 surrounded by his loving wife and daughters.
Dr. Fordham, Chancellor Emeritus and former dean of the UNC School of Medicine, served the university faithfully for nearly 50 years. In addition to his deep love for his family, he will be remembered for his devotion and dedication to the university.
Dr. Fordham is survived by his wife of 61 years, the former Barbara Byrd of Greensboro. He will also be missed by three daughters, Pamela Fordham Richey and fiance, Stewart Walker, Susan Fordham Crowell and husband, James Allen Crowell, Jr., and Betsy Fordham Templeton and husband, Michael Maloney. Also surviving are six grandchildren, Jennifer Richey Votel, and husband, Kevin, Leigh Richey Furman and husband, Jeff, Christopher Allen Richey and wife Suzanne, Ryan DeHaven Templeton, Shelly Blythe Crowell, and James Allen Crowell, III; great-grandchildren include, Camden Alexander Richey, Samantha Paige Richey, Abigail Elizabeth Furman, Molly Frances Furman, William Garrett Furman, Beckett Fordham Votel, and Charles Thomas Votel.
He was preceded in death by his son, Christopher C. Fordham IV, his brother Henry Clendenin Fordham and his great-grandson, John Fordham Furman.
The entire family greatly appreciates the kind, loving care provided in Dr. Fordham's last months by Kim Albright and Francis Kamara. The compassionate care and concern of the physicians and staff at North Carolina Memorial Hospital was deeply meaningful to the family.
The family will receive visitors on Saturday, August 16 2008 at Orange United Methodist Church, 6:30-8:30 p.m., 1220 Martin Luther King Blvd., Chapel Hill. Following a private internment service, a celebration of his life will be held at 2:00 p.m., August 17, 2008 at University United Methodist Church, 150 East Franklin St. in Chapel Hill. Parking has kindly been made available at University Baptist Church, 100 South Columbia Street and in the university lot behind University United Methodist Church.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Orange United Methodist Church Building Fund, 1220 Martin Luther King Blvd., Chapel Hill, NC 27514; the Fordham Fund for Diversity in the Health Professions, Medical Foundation of North Carolina, Inc. (UNC School of Medicine), 880 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Chapel Hill, NC 27514; or the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, P.O. Box 4527, New York, NY 10163.
Arrangements by Walker Funeral of Chapel Hill.
Online condolences may be sent to www.walkersfuneralservice.com