UWA To Close Wednesday As Campus Mourns Death Of Registrar

LIVINGSTON, AL — The University of West Alabama announced it will be closed on Wednesday to allow the campus community to mourn the death of UWA Registrar Susan T. Sparkman, who was killed in a vehicle accident Saturday.

She was 45 years old.

UWA President Ken Tucker, in a campus-wide announcement, said the day of mourning will allow those in the UWA community to attend funeral services, as no classes will meet and offices will be closed.

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The Sparkman family has also established a scholarship to honor her memory and encourage donations to it in lieu of flowers. Click here to donate to the Susan T. Sparkman Memorial Scholarship.

"We offer our sincere sympathy to the Sparkman family, as well as her closest friends and colleagues," he said. "In times like this, we can so clearly see the special bonds that are forged throughout the University family and the lasting positive impact we can have on one another."

Tucker went on to mention Sparkman's dedication to the success of UWA students, along with her historic knowledge of the university's operations as they relate to academics and records.

According to her obituary, Sparkman was born in Biloxi, Mississippi and lived there and in New Orleans before moving to Mobile, where she graduated from McGill-Toolen Catholic High School in 1994 and was a star volleyball player.

During her college days, she lettered in volleyball at UWA, playing for the Tigers from 1994 through 1997. She would go on to earn a bachelor’s degree in English with a minor in sociology in 1998, and a master’s degree in counseling/psychology in 2000.

Sparkman embarked on her professional career when she joined the UWA staff in 1998, eventually becoming the school's registrar in 2008. During the time in between, she worked as assistant registrar and in the Office of Institutional Effectiveness.

"Please keep Susan’s husband, Sparky, and their children, Tate and Caroline, in your thoughts and prayers as they grieve this devastating loss," Tucker said. "Please remember, also, Susan’s many close friends on campus in the days and weeks ahead as they mourn the loss of both a dear friend and colleague."

A Funeral Mass and service will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 22 at St Leo Catholic Church in Demopolis. Visitation for friends and family will open at 10 a.m.

She will then be buried at Brewersville Cemetery at Christian Valley Baptist Church in Brewersville.

UWA said the following essential operations will continue with limited essential staffing on Wednesday:

• University Police
• Campus school
• Campus dining
• Recreation facilities
• Athletic practices
• Physical Plant essential operations
• Barnes & Noble bookstore
• Campus mail will not run on Wednesday.

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