FERRUM, VA, November 14, 2025—Ferrum College mourns the loss of former Professor of Business Faye Angel, who died on October 12, 2025. Faye retired in 2018 after teaching at Ferrum College since the 1980s. A memorial gathering will be held on November 22 in Rocky Mount, Virginia.
Faye is survived by her husband, Professor Emeritus of Philosophy Gary Angel; her son Stuart Angel; Stuart’s wife Tara Angel; daughter Brynn Page; Brynn’s husband Early Page; and her three grandchildren, Bentlee Page, Kodee Page, and Noah Angel.
Norma Faye Stephens was born to Robert and Bernadine Stephens in Dale, Indiana on June 11, 1947. She was the oldest of five children, with two brothers, Bobby and Larry, and two sisters, Judy and Linda.
Faye met Gary Angel in 1968 and the couple married in 1970 while living in Evansville, Indiana. Faye worked as a nurse then and after they moved to Boston, Illinois, and back to Indiana, where they adopted their first child, Stuart.
After they moved to Ferrum, Virginia, where Gary began teaching philosophy, Faye continued in nursing for one year and their second child, Brynn, was born. Faye earned a B.S. degree from Ferrum College in 1983, then went on to earn her master’s degree in 1988 and her Ph.D. in 1998, both from Virginia Tech.
Upon graduating with her M.B.A., Faye became a full-time professor at Ferrum. She developed a reputation as one of the professors at the College who put the most effort into developing students and ensuring that they learned in her classes. Her students regularly won competitions against peers from larger, prestigious universities across the country. For almost 30 years, Faye taught and helped students reach their full potential as students and adults.
In addition to teaching a variety of business courses, Faye served as coordinator for the business program. When she developed and taught the first honors program cornerstone seminar on leadership in 2002, she also edited a textbook of readings for the course. In an interdisciplinary collaboration with Professor of English John Bruton, they created and team-taught a course called Technology and Digital Media.
“Dr. Faye Angel was a force of nature on this campus,” said Provost Delia Heck, whose first Ferrum teaching assignment included working in the business program with Faye. “She may have been small in stature, but she was mighty in heart and will. Her passion for student success was unparalleled. She was famous for knocking on students’ doors to drag them to class. Her legacy lives on in all the students who were fortunate enough to be on the receiving end of her love and care for them.”
Among the many other tributes shared in Faye’s memory, Scotty Bryan ’97 credits his advisor’s monthly email messages with motivating him to return to college after an absence and complete his degree. More than one former student called Faye “a force,” said she pushed them to do their best, and connected her with the College motto “Not Self, But Others.” They say she made sure students had what they needed—even buying one student glasses, and prepared them for the real world. Paul Cahoon ’17 expressed gratitude because Faye was one of several professors who pushed him, who “were all so supportive and always had their door open.”
Faye gave presentations and participated in workshops locally and nationally, as well as publishing her work in the areas of elementary career awareness, the concept of work in children’s literature (collaborating with Professor of English Tina Hanlon), technology and teaching, computer literacy, evaluating employees by computer, and the impact of information on problem-solving. One of her primary educational interests was to integrate theory and practice, stressing the importance of rigorous applications in education, internships, and community service as integral parts of the collegiate experience. She and her students and Business Professor Micky Naff worked with community organizations such as the Franklin County Workforce Consortium and Martinsville DuPont Credit Union, on projects such as website design and membership development.
Among the awards for excellence that Faye received was the Outstanding Faculty Member Award from the Ferrum College Student Government Association in 1998. She was inducted into several honor societies, including Beta Gamma Sigma at Virginia Tech in 1987 and Alpha Chi at Ferrum College in 1983, as well as Phi Delta Kappa.
Retired business professor Rathin Basu wrote, “Faye was at Ferrum when I arrived for my job interview in 1990. We then spent some 28 years together as colleagues and family friends. That first month in Ferrum, Faye sent a package of lovely child’s clothes to my wife for my one-year-old daughter. That meant a great deal to a young family and set the tone for our 32 years stay in Ferrum. Faye was, as so many of her students and colleagues have stated, an exceptional faculty member, completely engaged in the success of her students and willing to go to exceptional lengths to ensure their success. Many students owe their success to her persistence and mix of excellent teaching and unrelenting expectations of them. I learned much from her as a colleague.”
Amanda McCauley observed that “she was a light to myself and my husband as one of our professors at Ferrum College. She radiated brilliance, was so caring to everyone, and always encouraging.” Parents of the late Alexandria Dixon ’19 wrote in a tribute to Faye that their daughter “cherished your mentorship and your genuine friendship and support. Alex would often say your smiles and laughter made the world a better place and always made her feel welcome.”
The Ferrum College athletics program remembers Faye as a strong supporter of students as they participated in athletics while working toward a college degree. She was often seen cheering on her own children as well when they played soccer and her husband Gary when he coached soccer. Faye served on the Board of Directors of the Franklin County Youth Soccer Club.
Before and after her retirement Faye was remembered as a devoted grandmother and soccer Mom, as well as a fierce drummer in their band of family and friends. Rathin Basu wrote that “family was the core of Faye.”
President Mirta Martin said, “It is clear from the countless stories of students, colleagues, and alumni that Dr. Angel was a remarkable educator and mentor. Her dedication to her students’ growth, her pursuit of excellence, and her unwavering support for the Ferrum College community have left an enduring legacy. We honor her life, her work, and the profound impact she had on generations of Panthers.”
A memorial gathering celebrating the life of Faye Angel will be held on Saturday, November 22, from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. at Olde Towne Social House, 335 S. Main Street, Rocky Mount, Virginia 24151.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Planned Pethood in Rocky Mount, P.O. Box 2118, Rocky Mount, VA 24151.
