Claire Pamplin

Margaret Claire Pamplin, 65, of Brooklyn, New York, passed away on April 1, 2024, surrounded by family and friends. Claire was born on March 31, 1959, in Bennettsville, South Carolina to Harry Oliver Pamplin, Jr. and Margaret Meadors Pamplin, both of whom preceded her in death.

As a child, Claire lived with her family in Clio, SC; Raeford, NC; and Williamsburg, VA before moving to Calhoun, GA for her junior high and high school years. She graduated from Calhoun High School in 1977. Claire’s lifelong interests in English, journalism, and drama took root in high school where she wrote for the school newspaper, participated in Debate, and performed in plays and musicals. She was chosen to attend the prestigious Georgia Governor’s Honors Program during the summer prior to her senior year.

After high school, Claire attended the University of Georgia, earning a B.A. in English in 1981. She spent her junior year abroad at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland where she made cherished friends and her love of Scotland flourished, after which she visited many times throughout her life.

After graduating from UGA, Claire moved to Savannah, GA where she started what would become her lifelong career in education, teaching at Tompkins High School. Even though Claire loved and appreciated her small-town roots, she also felt the pull of the big city and soon moved to New York City where she would live for the rest of her life. Claire began her graduate education at Queens College in Flushing, NY earning an M.A. in English and going on to earn her Ph.D. in English from the Graduate Center of the City University of New York (CUNY) in 2004.

In 1993 on a camping trip, Claire struck up a conversation with a fellow camper, a stranger, that led to a job as a staff writer with Convenience Store News, a trade publication. By the end of her tenure in 2004, she had advanced to Editor-in-Chief. After years of advancing her education while also working, Claire completed her Ph.D. and began her career at the Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC), becoming an Associate Professor. She stayed at BMCC for 19 years where she was also the Chairperson of the English Department. Claire loved teaching and loved her students. She was teaching her classes up until the time of her death.

In 2006, Claire wrote the book, Plantation Makeover: Joel Chandler Harris’s Myths and Violations, published by Palgrave Macmillan. Between 2008 and 2016, she published many scholarly articles in addition to items for several publications including the Network of Executive Women, New Jersey Monthly, and Convenience Store News. At the time of her death, Claire was President of the New York College English Association.

Claire’sspiritual life was very important to her. She was a member of Park Slope United Methodist Church in Brooklyn for many years, serving until the time of her death as the volunteer coordinator for the Sunday Dinner program that provides food and meals for those in need in the community. Claire also looked forward to the annual church retreat every October, often attending with her daughter Kate.

Throughout her life, Claire enjoyed traveling in the United States and Europe with family and friends, going on great adventures and visiting friends in faraway places. She was an Elvis fan and she and Kate had a great time visiting Graceland. She loved spending time at the beach and being near the ocean. She enjoyed being outdoors camping, hiking, and canoeing. As a child in South Carolina, Claire could often be seen riding in the streets on her first pony, Brownie. She continued to love horses throughout her life, riding every chance she got. Claire loved books and appreciated art. She was very creative and enjoyed painting and drawing. She liked listening to music, attending the theatre, eating ice cream with Kate, and board games. Most recently, she especially enjoyed playing Canasta with her friends in New York. Claire never met a stranger. She was so well read and adventurous, she could find common ground with everyone. People were truly drawn in by her enthusiasm and passion for life.

It was especially peaceful for Claire to spend time at her second home in the hamlet of Mellenville, NY in the Hudson Valley area, sitting on her screened-in porch looking out over the creek running through the backyard.

Claire is survived by her beloved daughter, Kate Pamplin, of New York City; siblings Drew Brown (Kirk) of Roswell, GA and Harry Pamplin of Florida; nieces and nephew Mary Gray (Jerry), Marley and Ellis Brown; many cousins and other extended family and close friends. Claire is also survived by her partner Kelly Bedwell. Claire was loved by so many and will be missed every day.

In lieu of flowers, please consider honoring Claire’s memory by donating to the horse rescue organization Equine Advocates https://www.equineadvocates.org/; High and Mighty Therapeutic Riding and Driving Center https://high-n-mighty.org/; or Park Slope United Methodist Church, https://www.parkslopeumc.net/.

A Celebration of Life and reception is planned for Saturday, June 29, 2024, at Park Slope United Methodist Church, 410 6th Ave, Brooklyn, NY from 1:00PM–3:30PM. A Zoom link will be provided for those who wish to virtually attend.

“Claire was a shining light….enthusiastic, happy, and positive. She was forthright, compassionate, curious, and funny.”

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