Beverly Rama, who served as an administrative coordinator and adviser and compassionate counselor to students in the Department of Art and Design for nearly a decade, died Sunday. She was 52.

Jack Maxwell, former chair of the art department, worked with Rama for several years and reacted to her passing with “a sense of deep loss.”

“I have known no one in my life that was more generous and willing to help than Beverly and yet at the same time more humble and unassuming,” Maxwell said.

Mike Wiggins, current chair of the department, said Rama’s favorite part of working in the art office was talking with students. As administrative coordinator beginning in 2002, Beverly managed the art office. She was an academic adviser, a counselor and a friend to students and faculty.

“Last spring as registration approached, student after student would sit with her asking all kinds of crazy questions,” Wiggins told students in the art department in an email. “Her patience, love and kindness in guiding you all through a stressful process was amazing to hear.”

Beverly Guyer Rama was born on June 17, 1959, in Neward, N.Y.. to Charles and Betty Guyer and was reared in the Northeast. She joined the Adventures in Missions Program in Lubbock, where she met Ronnie Rama, associate professor of art and design. The couple married on Aug. 20, 1982. They began their family in Lubbock, and moved to Montevideo, Uruguay, where they served on a missionary team. They moved back to Lubbock in 2001 and to Abilene the following year to work for the university.

In 2008, Beverly was diagnosed with cancer, and began a taxing treatment regimen. She was supported by family, students and members of the ACU community.

Beverly Rama is survived by her husband, Ronnie, and three children, Anna Meg, Eric and Mandy. A memorial service took place Tuesday at Highland Church of Christ.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to a cancer treatment program or by contributing children’s books to a library.