Doug MacEachern of Covington, Louisiana, has committed to including the University of Mississippi in his estate plans in the form of a major gift that will benefit full-time students in the School of Pharmacy.
After the donor’s lifetime, his estimated $2.9 million testamentary gift will provide additional support to the Jane B. MacEachern Memorial Pharmacy Scholarship Endowment.
In 2020, with a gift of $300,000, MacEachern and his son, Taylor, established the endowment as a memorial to wife and mother, Jane Bradley MacEachern, who graduated from the UM School of Pharmacy in 1981. She later earned a doctorate in pharmacy at the University of Tennessee.
Jane MacEachern devoted much of her 39-year professional career to designing and implementing oncology drug trials — research that made a significant impact in the lives of cancer patients.
“One of the primary goals for my estate is to support educational opportunities at the University of Mississippi,” Doug MacEachern said. “I made the planned gift at this time to ensure my goals are achieved in the future.
“I hope the gift will provide the opportunity for students to obtain their dreams of attending Ole Miss and earning a degree from the School of Pharmacy. I would like to make an impact on the lives of the students who are awarded the Jane B. MacEachern Memorial Scholarship.”
An alumnus of Mississippi State University, MacEachern retired from Shell Oil Co. after working 38 years for the company as a petroleum engineer.
The MacEacherns made additional gifts in 2021 and 2022, increasing the endowment to $900,000.
“The University of Mississippi was the enabler for Jane to reach her first goal of receiving an undergraduate degree in pharmacy,” her husband said. “Our son, Taylor, and I want other students to have the opportunities afforded her.”
U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Taylor MacEachern said his mother was continually focused on service to individuals living with cancer.
“My mom was always willing to get involved, helping to determine a course of action for those who might otherwise be lost in the nightmare of a cancer diagnosis,” he said.
Donna Strum, dean of the School of Pharmacy, said estate gifts like MacEachern’s are greatly appreciated.
“Planned gifts have a generational impact, ensuring that current and future students have the support they need to obtain pharmacy degrees without facing the challenge of financial hardship,” Strum said. “I’m so thankful for Doug’s vision for the future of our school and his desire to see our students reach their goals.”
Since 2020, 18 pharmacy students have received the MacEachern Scholarship for a total award of more than $110,000.
The Jane B. MacEachern Memorial Pharmacy Scholarship Endowment is open to support from businesses and individuals. Gifts can be made to by sending a check, with the fund’s name noted on the memo line, to the University of Mississippi Foundation, 406 University Ave., Oxford, MS 38655, or by giving online at https://umfoundation.givingfuel.com/nowandever.
For more information, contact Laura Gullett, associate director of development for the School of Pharmacy, at laurahg@olemiss.edu or 662-915-2384.
For information about including the University of Mississippi in your estate planning, contact Marc Littlecott, director of advancement for estate and gift planning, at marcplan@olemiss.edu or 662-915-6625.
By Bill Dabney/UM Foundation