Liberty Champion founder dies at 90
Carolyn Ann Teel Wharton, former journalism professor and founder of the Liberty Champion, had a heart of compassion and drive to bring the study of journalism to Liberty University. Guided by her firm relationship with the Lord, Wharton served her community faithfully and left a lingering impact on Liberty University.
Wharton died in her home in Altavista Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026, at the age of 90.
Wharton was born to Clark and Dorothy Teel on June 29, 1936, in Michigan City, Indiana. In the eighth grade, she gave her life to Jesus and focused the rest of her life on serving him.
After graduating from high school, she completed her undergraduate program at Bob Jones University with a degree in speech education. She then returned home to help take care of her ailing mother, who died eight years later.
During those eight years, Wharton worked at a local school teaching English, facilitating the school newspaper and serving as the assistant drama coach.
Later, she received a teaching position from Grace College, located in Winona Lake, Indiana. There, Wharton advised the school’s news publication, while obtaining her master’s degree from Ohio University.
Ann met her husband, Jim Wharton, a recent widower with four young children on Feb. 4, 1972. Jim and Ann were married five months later. In addition to their four children, the family added six grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren over the years.
Wharton’s daughter, Lisa Moore, said her mom loved her family deeply.
“My favorite thing is that she loved my dad and loved our family,” Moore said. “They were committed to the Lord … and committed to doing things well.”
During their early married life, Wharton taught at Grace College and was also an adjunct at Bethel College between 1972 and 1974. After that, she worked as a publicist for several organizations. Next, she worked as a reporter for the Warsaw Times Union and then as editor of the Berne Tri-Weekly News.
Wharton joined the Liberty Baptist College (LBC) faculty in 1983 to assist with establishing a journalism major.
Along with teaching, she founded the university’s first student-staffed newspaper publication, The Liberty Champion.
The very first issue of the Champion was printed Oct. 24, 1983. The four-page issue included stories about Sen. Edward Kennedy’s speech during Convocation at LBC, the death of Rep. Larry McDonald and the anticipation of Liberty’s Spirit of the Mountain marching band performance at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Moore recalled how busy Sunday evenings were. Students would eagerly try to make deadlines and turn in their articles so Jerry Falwell Sr. could approve them on time.
“Every Sunday night, there was this drive to get that paper in or make those deadlines,” Moore said.
Aside from editing alongside students, Wharton was also a published author.
Zondervan Publishing released Wharton’s first romance novel, “Rising Thunder,” in 1986. The story is set during the French and Indian War in the Shenandoah Valley. It is centered around Abigail Brannon, who is a widow with twins. Wharton often said she based the male character, officer Patrick Taylor, on her husband Jim.
Wharton also self-published Christian romance “Out of Shadows” in 2011 and co-authored “Help! I’m Not a Perfect Parent!” with David Miller in 1991.
The couple also donated the resources for the refurbishment of classrooms in DeMoss Hall and several Power Mac computers for the journalism students. At the time, the available computer equipment at the university was not the right quality to properly teach journalism and graphic design. Wharton and her husband used their own money to make sure students in the program would learn using the best equipment.
Recognizing the need to student best practices from other universities, The Liberty Champion staff traveled to Virginia Beach in February 1995, to participate in a conference, where it won “Best of Show.” The advisors at the conference founded the Association of Christian Collegiate Media, where Wharton was named president.
In 1998, the Whartons started the Kirkpatrick Helping Hand program. The fund was given specifically to a communication student to help with emergency financial needs.
Wharton was a member of Thomas Road Baptist Church and Calvary Baptist Church in Altavista. Moore said she also volunteered at the Liberty Godparent Home and was a member of Concerned Women for America (CWA).
Former Liberty Champion director Deborah Huff said Wharton was an example to students, teaching them how to pray and go to God in every situation.
“She didn’t just say it was important to go to God in prayer, she showed the students and me how to do it,” Huff said. “ … If equipment failed, we prayed. When the university was having financial trouble, we prayed, if a student had a personal problem, we prayed.”
After 16 years of dedication to working at Liberty University, Wharton retired in 1999.
Liberty hosted an exhibition in her honor in February 2016, highlighting her work and accomplishments.
Wharton left a lasting impact on Liberty University and the surrounding community. She had a heart for students and her legacy continues to drive the next generation to excellence.
Moore said Wharton’s advice to students would be, “Trust in the Lord and follow him all the days of your life.”
Gathje is the news editor for The Liberty Champion.