McDuffie Center for Strings scholarship established in memory of 1927 Mercer Law graduate Ralph Moseley Eden

July 14, 2021

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact: Julia Rubens, (478) 301-2933 or rubens_ja@mercer.edu  

McDuffie Center for Strings Scholarship Established in Memory 

Of 1927 Mercer Law School Graduate Ralph Moseley Eden

MACON – Atlanta-area philanthropist Carol Lynn Eden has pledged at least $2.5 million to endow scholarships in memory of her late father, Ralph Moseley Eden, a 1927 graduate of Mercer Law School, to benefit students in the Robert McDuffie Center for Strings in the Townsend School of Music at Mercer University.

In addition to the endowment pledge, Eden has established a $50,000 per year expendable scholarship fund for McDuffie Center students. 

Founder of the McDuffie Center Robert McDuffie noted, “I am overwhelmed by Lynn Eden’s remarkable pledge to our Center and Mercer. These new scholarships will help to attract the world’s finest young artists to come to Macon and realize their potential, while also learning to become citizen artists in an ever-changing 21st century landscape. A heartfelt thank you to an exceptional philanthropist, Lynn Eden.”

Recipients of the scholarship will be designated as Eden Scholars and contribute at least 15 hours of community outreach while pursuing his or her music education at Mercer. 

Ralph Moseley Eden was born in Macon, on July 14, 1903. He was the youngest of the six children of Clarence A. and Leila Eden. Eden attended primary and high school in the Macon area before enrolling at Mercer, where he was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. He graduated in June 1927 with a Bachelor of Laws degree, was admitted to the Georgia State Bar, and went on to pursue a career in the insurance industry, using his legal background as a claims adjustor. Eden married Anita Turk and raised a family, first in Baltimore, Md., Knoxville, Tenn., and Baton Rouge, La., before being transferred to Atlanta, where he remained for the rest of his life. 

Although he did not play an instrument, he loved classical music, and had an extensive record collection of classical recordings, both instrumental and opera. He would listen to the Metropolitan Opera on the radio on Saturday afternoons, and when television programming came along, he would watch the Voice of Firestone every week. He instilled in his three children, Ralph, Jr., Polly and Lynn, a love of classical music, and indeed all three played in school bands in addition to piano at home. 

One of his favorite pieces was “Méditation” from Thaïs. He was proud of his association with Mercer University, and combined with his love of music, this scholarship is being established in his name by his daughter. 

About the Robert McDuffie Center for Strings

The Robert McDuffie Center for Strings has assembled an unparalleled faculty of international performing artists to teach talented students in pursuit of musical excellence. Founded as a special institute within Mercer University’s Townsend School of Music, the McDuffie Center for Strings’ enrollment is limited to 26 students: 12 violinists, six violists, six cellists and two double bassists. 

About Mercer University

Founded in 1833, Mercer University is a dynamic and comprehensive center of undergraduate, graduate and professional education. With more than 9,000 students enrolled in 12 schools and colleges, on major campuses in Macon and Atlanta; medical school sites in Macon, Savannah and Columbus; and at regional academic centers in Henry and Douglas counties, Mercer is classified as a Doctoral University with High Research Activity by the Carnegie Classification of Institutes of Higher Education and ranked among the top tier of national research universities by U.S. News & World Report. The Mercer Health Sciences Center includes the University’s School of Medicine and Colleges of Nursing, Health Professions and Pharmacy. Mercer is affiliated with five teaching hospitals – Memorial University Medical Center in Savannah; The Medical Center, Navicent Health, and Coliseum Medical Centers in Macon; and Midtown Medical Center and St. Francis Hospital in Columbus. The University also has an educational partnership with Robins Air Force Base in Warner Robins. It operates an academic press and a performing arts center in Macon and an engineering research center in Warner Robins. Mercer is one of only 286 institutions nationwide to shelter a chapter of The Phi Beta Kappa Society, the nation’s most prestigious academic honor society; one of eight institutions to hold membership in the Georgia Research Alliance; and the only private university in Georgia to field an NCAA Division I athletic program. www.mercer.edu

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