Jeff was born on November 24, 1962, in Alexandria, Louisiana. He was a 1980 graduate of Bolton High School and a 1985 graduate of Northeast Louisiana University. He earned a Masters Degree studying Conducting under Mark Camphouse from Radford University in 1990.
After college, Jeff marched with several drum corps, including the Memphis Blues Brass Band, the Blue Knights, and the CorpsVets, where he played baritone and served as drum major.
Jeff began his teaching career in South Carolina at Ninety-Six High School. He spent 17 years at Wren Middle/Wren High School in Piedmont, SC, and then 15 years at Greer High School, where he retired in 2022. He also served as the marching instructor for the Clemson Tiger Band since 2003. Throughout his career, Jeff has made a name for himself as he held drum major master classes and concert band clinics across the country.
Jeff was passionate about students, staff, music, and every community he lived in. He was a two-time Teacher of the Year for Greer High and a two-time recipient of the WYFF Channel 4 Golden Apple Award. He also served as the assistant golf coach for Greer High School and assistant softball coach at Wren High. Jeff’s marching and symphonic bands consistently received high acclaim at the local, regional, and state levels.
Jeff will be remembered as a mentor, a friend, a colleague, a husband, a father, a humanitarian, and a beacon of hope. Most of all, Jeff will be remembered for his great sense of humor, his love of the Clemson Tigers, his enthusiasm for golf, and his tremendous love for his wife, Donna.
He was pre-deceased by his mother, Eva Norman, and his grandmother, Gustine Norman of Alexandria, Louisiana.
Jeff is survived by his wife of 25 years, Donna; his stepchildren, Will Duncan and Emily Duncan; and step-grandchildren Aiden Soltysiak, Logan Duncan, and Kaylee Duncan. He is also survived by his mother-in-law, Betty Goodnough, and adoptive parents, Bob and Donna Cotter.
Services will be held on January 5, 2024, at Praise Cathedral, 3390 Brushy Creek Rd. Greer, SC 29650. Visitation will be from 12:00 PM to 1:45 PM, followed by a Celebration of Life at 2:00 PM.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Redeemer Lutheran Church in Greer or the Greer High School Band Booster Club.