Al Upshaw, a computer technician at Campbell’s Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law, has established a law school scholarship honoring his wife Jill, a vivacious and loving mother who suffered severe head injuries in a 1999 auto accident that left her in a semi-conscious state. The Upshaw’s are the parents of three daughters. Their youngest, Caroline, was born seven months after Jill’s accident on May 9, 2000, while Jill was still in a coma. The Jill Glover Upshaw Endowed Law Scholarship was established to benefit single parents and students in need who are applying to law school. “I know Jill would want to help out a single mom or dad who is trying to pay for school,” Upshaw said. Since Jill’s accident, Upshaw has virtually been a single parent himself, caring for daughters Grace, Kate and Caroline with the help of relatives and friends and his church family. “It’s very difficult raising children by yourself,” said Upshaw. “Having an employer like Campbell has been a huge help.” A university employee since 1990, Upshaw worked at the Physical Plant for five years before transferring to the law school. In the summers of 2000 and 2001, Campbell University Law School students organized fundraisers to help defray the cost of Jill’s care and immediately following Jill’s accident, Upshaw’s church, First Baptist of Buies Creek, pitched in to help with meal preparation, laundry and baby sitting. Both the church and the law school still act as Upshaw’s ballast and support. “I could always call on one of my friends from church to help me if I ran out of diapers in the middle of the night, or if I just needed to run some errands,” he said. “I’ve had such good friends here who care about Jill and my family. They continue to pray for us and provide comfort.” Married for 21 years, Jill and Al dated for almost five years prior to their marriage. There has been no change in Jill’s condition, yet Upshaw still has reason to be thankful. “I have three healthy girls, beautiful girls” he said. “I feel really blessed to have had such a wonderful wife in Jill.” To contribute to the Jill Glover Upshaw Endowed Law Scholarship, contact the Campbell University Advancement Office, P.O. Box 116, 143 Main St., Buies Creek, N.C., 27506.Photo Copy: From left, Caroline, Kate and Grace Upshaw, daughters of Jill and Al Upshaw.
Something for Jill: Upshaw establishes scholarship honoring disabled wife