A Legacy of care: Family Gift Establishes Fund Honoring ECU School of Dental Medicine Pioneer
The East Carolina University School of Dental Medicine recently benefited from a notable gift establishing a new fund in honor of Grace Brown,a woman whose life intertwined with dentistry and education,and whose influence extends through multiple generations of her family. The Brown-Sheaffer Fund will support the schoolS mission of expanding access to oral healthcare across North Carolina.
The gift was made by Brown’s daughter, Brown Sheaffer, a practicing dentist, and her husband, Christian Sheaffer, an endodontist. Their daughter,Lucy Anna Sheaffer,is currently a dental student at ECU,continuing a family tradition deeply rooted in the profession.
Brown Sheaffer described her mother as a woman of unwavering positivity and resilience. Serving as a Captain in the Army Dental Corps during a time when the field was largely male-dominated, Grace Brown provided crucial support to her daughter’s early career and to her son-in-law’s endodontic education. Later, she and Brown Sheaffer’s father became invaluable caregivers for their young children, enabling the couple to build their practices.
“Thay were unwavering and selfless in their support and care for their grandchildren, allowing all of us to thrive,” Brown Sheaffer recalled.
Grace Brown’s enthusiasm extended to her grandchildren’s pursuits, particularly the two who attended ECU. She eagerly anticipated the possibility of one or both pursuing dental education at the university.
Lucy Anna Sheaffer expressed her sadness at her grandmother’s passing but found comfort in the fund’s creation. “I’m so sad she’s not hear seeing me right now, but she would be so excited,” she said. “But this fund being named for her kind of ties her in,having a tangibility to her name and being here and thinking of her and memorializing her in that way.”
Christian Sheaffer highlighted the significant impact of contributions to the ECU School of dental Medicine. “Contributing to the ECU School of Dental Medicine is a huge multiplier, and any gift that goes to the school, just the care that the patients receive from that gift is worth so much more than the gift that you give,” he explained. “That is something that needs to be celebrated, that there’s a great prospect to take gifts and increase them and multiply them, because not every contribution grows the way that this does and that it’s a real, tangible benefit for the people that you’re giving for.”
The Brown-Sheaffer family’s support stems from their strong belief in the school’s mission to serve rural and underserved communities in North Carolina. ECU dental students gain practical experience through rotations at eight community service learning centers across the state, in addition to their work at Ross Hall.
Brown Sheaffer emphasized the transformative power of oral health. “Having good oral health can change somebody’s life. I’m so proud to see Lucy Anna in this field, and I’m encouraged to see her jump right in and feel confident.”
The opportunity to work alongside her father, Christian Sheaffer, in the school’s simulation lab is particularly meaningful for Lucy Anna.He guides her hands and offers instruction, echoing the family’s long-standing commitment to education and mentorship.
“It means a lot that she thought enough of what we do to consider that for herself. I’m excited for her to find her way in dentistry,” Christian Sheaffer said.
Brown Sheaffer expressed pride in witnessing this intergenerational connection and in the fund that will honor her mother’s legacy. “It’s just a great way to combine their two fields, dentistry and education,” she said. ”It gives back in so many ways, and I’m really proud of my father for doing that. I’m proud of him for memorializing her in this way.”
