10 Notable alumni of Johnson C Smith University
Updated: June 13, 2026 EliteDegrees
Johnson C Smith University is ranked #4,465 in the world and #1,162 in United States by aggregated alumni prominence. Below is the list of 10 notable alumni from Johnson C Smith University sorted by their wiki pages popularity. The directory includes famous graduates and former students along with research and academic staff. Many individuals affiliated with Johnson C Smith University won Nobel Prizes for Peace, in Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, and Economics.
1. Faya Ora Rose Touré
1945-. (aged 81)
lawyer
Faya Ora Rose Touré, born Rose M. Gaines, is an American civil rights activist and lawyer who was Alabama’s first black woman judge. Henry Sanders is her husband.
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2. Larry Hall
1955-. (aged 71)
politician
Larry Dwight Hall is an American politician. A longtime member of the North Carolina House of Representatives, he served as Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Military and Veterans Affairs under Governor Roy Cooper from 2017 through January 2021.
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3. Clarence F. Stephens
1917-2018 (aged 101)
mathematician
university teacher
Clarence Francis Stephens was an American mathematician. He is credited with inspiring students and faculty at SUNY Potsdam to form the most successful United States undergraduate mathematics degree programs in the past century. Stephens was recognized by Mathematically Gifted & Black as a Black History Month 2018 Honoree.
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4. Sandra L. Townes
1944-2018 (aged 74)
lawyer
judge
Sandra Lynn Townes was a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York.
5. Eva M. Clayton
1934-. (aged 92)
politician
director
Eva Clayton is an American politician from North Carolina. On taking her seat in the United States House of Representatives following a special election in 1992, Clayton became the first African American to represent North Carolina in the House since George Henry White was elected to his second and last term in 1898. She was re-elected and served for five...
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6. Grover Covington
1956-. (aged 70)
Canadian football player
Grover Covington is an American former professional football defensive end who played for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He is a member of the Canadian Football Hall of Fame.
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7. Mary McLeod Bethune
1875-1955 (aged 80)
missionary
journalist
writer
religious leader
human rights defender
Mary McLeod Bethune was an American educator, philanthropist, humanitarian, womanist, and civil rights activist. Bethune founded the National Council of Negro Women in 1935, and proceeded to establish the Aframerican Women's Journal, which was the flagship journal of the organization. She presided over other African-American women's organizations, including the National Association for Colored Women. Bethune became the first Black woman...
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8. Dorothy Counts
1942-. (aged 84)
student
Dorothy "Dot" Counts-Scoggins is an American civil rights pioneer who was one of the first black students admitted to Harry P. Harding High School during school integration in the United States. After four days of harassment that threatened her safety, her parents withdrew her from the school, but the images of Counts-Scoggins being verbally assaulted by her white classmates were...
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9. Gary Siplin
1954-. (aged 72)
politician
Gary Anthony Siplin was a Democratic member of the Florida Senate, representing the 19th District from 2003. Previously he was a member of the Florida House of Representatives from 2000 through 2002.
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10. Chris Smith
1992-2023 (aged 31)
American football player
Chris Smith is an American filmmaker. He directed American Movie, which was awarded the Grand Jury Prize for Documentary at the 1999 Sundance Film Festival.
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