Travis Overton had a passion for ensuring students became the best versions of themselves.
He worked tirelessly for Coastal Carolina University, and was committed to making it a better place as he helped plan for its future.
Most importantly, he loved and supported his family. And even though he was the youngest of all his cousins, he was their leader 鈥 someone they all looked up to.
Overton, the university鈥檚 vice president for executive initiatives and chief of staff, died this past week. He was 42.
鈥淚f you want to smile, he was the person to be around,鈥 said his older brother, Christopher Overton. 鈥淔or the people who didn鈥檛 know him, he never met a stranger. Travis would get along with just about anybody. He would do anything in the world for you if he could.鈥
Travis Overton and his older brother Christopher.聽
CCU remembers
Dozens of tributes to Travis poured onto his Facebook page following his death 鈥 many of which were from colleagues at Coastal Carolina University.
Overton, who served on the along with eight others and the university鈥檚 president, held huge responsibilities on campus.
He supervised CHANT411, worked in scheduling and event services and university marketing and communication.
Travis Overton, left, and CCU President Michael T. Benson inside the Teal Nation store.
CCU President Michael T. Benson said he first met Travis in September 2020 when Travis was running the hiring process for a new president. Benson said the process was nerve-racking, but Travis made it more comfortable.
鈥淚 could tell from the get-go that he was a special person,鈥 Benson said.
And when there was a need, Travis didn鈥檛 hesitate to jump into action.
鈥淚f there was a task on campus, he was one to do it, and he could do it. He was that capable,鈥 Benson said.
Travis played a big role in two major projects: A campus master plan and a strategic plan.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 a heavy lift,鈥 Benson said.
Travis had a way of putting people at ease. He was a mentor to many. And an encourager, letting people know they could achieve their dreams.
鈥淗e was just always there as a cheerleader for me,鈥 said Diane Sanders, who serves on the President鈥檚 Council as vice president for advancement and alumni engagement. 鈥淗e was a mentor to so many.鈥
Sanders said being around the same age as Travis, she felt like they were the next generation to push the university forward.
鈥淚 felt like Coastal was on our shoulders and it was on us to take Coastal to the next level,鈥 she said.
His top priority was supporting students, from the time he started at CCU in 2007.
鈥淗e never lost sight of his roots, which were in student affairs,鈥 Benson said.
No one鈥擭O ONE鈥攇ave more to than our very own VPO. Known as Coastal鈥檚 Swiss Army Knife, there was nothing he could not or would not do for students and for the entire campus community. He was our indispensable team member.
鈥 Michael T. Benson (@michaeltbenson)
I can鈥檛 express how sad I am at鈥
Travis served as vice president of student rights and responsibilities/dean of students. He also worked in student affairs, including housing, fraternity and sorority life, student conduct and off-campus student services.
In addition to his roles at CCU, Overton served as .
Hillary Howard, executive director of Conway Downtown Alive, said Tuesday, Dec. 31, while welcoming the community to New Year's Eve fireworks in downtown Conway, she was struck by "just how much Travis would have loved to see this gathering."
"His energy enthusiasm and encouragement propelled Conway Alive into a new chapter and cultivated formidable leaders in our growing organization," she said. "This is an immense loss for Conway Alive, Coastal Carolina University and the community at large."
Travis Overton, who served as CCU's聽vice president for executive initiatives and chief of staff, died last month. Pictured here is his family during the holidays. Bottom row, from left to right, are his aunts and uncle: Deborah Campbell, Pamela Jones, Monica Townsend and Marcus Derrickson. Back row, from left to right, are Cybill Bodenhamer, Kevin Townsend, Christopher Overton, Walter Campbell and Travis Overton.
For Conway Mayor Barbara Blain, Travis made a strong impression on the Conway community, even though he didn't live in the city. Blain said when he spoke, the room would become quiet and folks would listen to him. She also claimed Travis as a nephew.
"He definitely was the kind of person you pay attention to right away," she said. "His presence was just the kind that stands out in any crowd."
A Tennessee native
Overton was from the Nashville, Tennessee, area. He held two degrees 鈥 a bachelor's and an MBA 鈥 from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.
He lived in the Myrtle Beach area, was an active member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and served as an advisor for the African American Initiative for Men at the university.
Much like in his career, he was also a planner and organizer for family functions.
鈥淗e took care of everything,鈥 his brother Chris said. 鈥淗e was a guy who had the master plan for everything.鈥
Travis Overton, left, and his brother Christopher Overton in front of their mother and stepfather's longtime home. The brothers had just sold the home after both their mother and stepfather died.
Growing up, their family would take trips to the lake. Chris would pack up to fish and throw the ball around. But not Travis. He鈥檇 bring books to read.
鈥淚 used to want him to go fishing, but Travis, he wasn鈥檛 doing that,鈥 Chris said. 鈥淗e would most certain have two or three books. We were going to the lake, but he was going to read.鈥
The brothers were raised around cousins and their aunt Pamela Jones, who also served as a mother figure.
鈥淏asically two families living in one house,鈥 Chris said. 鈥淸Aunt Pamela is] the rock in our family.鈥
Travis Overton, left, and his aunt Pamela Jones who was a mother figure in his life.
For his sister-in-law Tameka, Travis was a fellow car junkie. The two bonded over cars, often telling the family they were going to the grocery store, but instead going to car lots to test drive the newest vehicle they both were swooning over at the time.
鈥淗e was my little running partner,鈥 said Tameka, Chris's high school sweetheart who knew Travis since he was about 7 years old.
Travis was a rule-follower. Just ask his big brother.
Chris used to pay Travis to not tell their mother that Tameka was coming over when their mother would work at night.
鈥淚 gave him $40, and he was just so happy,鈥 Chris said. 鈥淚 told him, 鈥榊ou can鈥檛 say anything.鈥 I gave him the money, Tameka came over and the next day he told on me.鈥
Travis Overton's high school graduation photo.
There weren鈥檛 many bad memories as brothers, even through hard times. Their mother died in 2013, and the brothers鈥 relationship grew even stronger.
Brandon Batts, Travis and Chris鈥檚 younger brother who was adopted into the family in 2006, said Travis was first his mentor. The two had a rocky start because Travis mistook Batts for the opposite of a rule-follower, but after some convincing by Chris, Travis took Batts in as a little brother.
鈥淗e will literally speak life into you in order for you to be a better person鈥︹ Batts said. 鈥淭ravis didn鈥檛 judge. He was always there to listen, and assist whenever you needed it.鈥
From left to right are Travis Overton's niece Chrishae Overton, sister-in-law Tameka Overton and Travis Overton.
Days before Travis died, he had been in touch with family members, and Chris had been checking in after Travis said he couldn鈥檛 come home for Christmas due to not feeling well from a sinus infection.
Tameka said she knew something was wrong and asked that a wellness check be done at Travis鈥檚 home.
鈥淚t was a series of emotions that you go through,鈥 Tameka said. 鈥淵ou don鈥檛 want it to be true.鈥
Batts received the phone call from Travis鈥檚 fraternity brothers, and said he didn鈥檛 believe the news until he spoke with an officer and a coroner.
A flood of emotions overcame him, he said, but he had to report the news to family.
鈥淚t鈥檚 heartbreaking,鈥 Tameka said. 鈥淗e definitely was an angel here on Earth.鈥
Travis Overton and his brother Christopher Overton, in the back, and Christopher's daughters Chrishae and Chantel.
Moving forward
An autopsy was conducted Monday, and his family plans to hold services next week. A viewing is 1-5 p.m. Jan. 17 at New Generation Funeral Home, 2930 Murfreesboro Pike, Antioch, Tennessee. A second viewing is at 11 a.m. Jan. 18, followed by a funeral at noon at Bethesda Original Church of God, 2816 Tucker Road, Nashville, Tennessee.
On campus, Benson said leaders met Thursday, Jan. 2, to discuss what needs to happen next.
CCU plans to honor Overton in some way on campus, leaders said, whether it be a building with his name, a scholarship or a memorial to keep his legacy alive. And because future students will not know him, it鈥檚 that much more important to memorialize his life and dedication to Coastal.
鈥淗e gave so much of himself to Coastal,鈥 Sanders said. 鈥淗e truly bled teal.鈥
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