31 August 2006

Longwood freshman assigned to residence hall
named in honor of his great-great grandfather

When Stephen Curry and his parents, Bowie and Barbara, toured Longwood University for the first time they took particular interest in Curry Hall, a residence hall for freshman students.  “It crossed my mind that this building could have been named for my husband’s ancestor, but at the time I didn’t inquire about it,” said Barbara.   Curiosity got the best of her though and during a recent phone call to Longwood’s Office of Residence Life, she learned that the building is indeed named for Jabez Lamar Monroe (J.L.M.) Curry, Stephen’s great-great grandfather.  She also learned that her Stephen, who began classes as a freshman on August 28, had been assigned to live in Curry Hall.

Curry Hall was dedicated in 1969 in honor of  J.L.M. Curry, an eminent statesman, educator, preacher, orator, author, and advocate for public education.  In April 1884, J.L.M. Curry was named president of the Board of Trustees of the State Female Normal School at Farmville (now Longwood University), the first state institution of higher learning for women established in Virginia.  Curry Hall is a 10-story residence hall for freshmen. 

“Longwood is the only college that Stephen applied to,” said Barbara.  “We visited in November and Stephen was accepted under the immediate decision program.”

Stephen is excited about being at Longwood and says that living in a residence hall named for his great-great grandfather is “a neat opportunity.”  Stephen is a 2006 graduate of Fredericksburg Christian School.