Longtime Samford University administrator Laverne A. Farmer died July 13, 2011, in Bradenton, Fla., of lung cancer.

Farmer was Samford vice president for business affairs from 1994 until he retired in 2000. He had been a member of the administration since 1983, also serving as assistant vice president/controller and assistant to the president.

At the time of his death, he was a founding partner and treasurer/secretary of Campus Dining, Inc., which operates food service accounts at Samford and seven other locations.

To the Campus Dining family, Farmer was much more than a partner, says company chief financial officer Ken Daniel.

“He was our rock, our mentor, our go-to person,” said Daniel. “Laverne taught us to always do the right thing. In business, he stressed that we should work hard, make a profit in the right way, to always spend our profit wisely, and to always give back.”

“His influence on our corporate culture and on each one of us personally will continue to live on forever.”

Farmer came to Samford from the University of Miami, where he was director of business and finance for athletics and director of business, auxiliary and medical support services. He holds a Master of Business Administration degree from the Miami school.

A Crossville, Tenn., native, Farmer was president of a Pompano Beach, Fla., marketing firm and printing director at Georgetown College in Kentucky before joining Miami.

He is survived by his wife, Jan Farmer, two daughters, Susan Lammers and Dr. Michele K. Haralson, who is a member of Samford’s education faculty, and five grandchildren.

Visitation will be at 10 a.m. on Saturday, July 23, followed by services at 11 a.m. at Hood Funeral Home in Crossville, Tenn.

Memorials may be made to the Laverne A. and Janice S. Farmer Scholarship Fund, Samford University, 800 Lakeshore Drive, Birmingham, AL 35229, or to Braden River Presbyterian Church, 5150 Peridia Blvd. East, Bradenton, FL 34203.