Students, family and community members grew still Thursday evening at the University of Southern Mississippi as candle lights glowed in remembrance of Demartravion “Trey” Reed.
Reed—a 21-year-old Black Delta State student from Grenada—was found early in the morning on Sept. 15, hanging from a tree located on the DSU campus. Though Reed’s death is still under investigation, public outrage and controversy have sparked across social media and the state, questioning the narrative of suicide as stated by authorities. The Mississippi State Medical Examiner concluded that Reed’s death was consistent with suicide, but his family is pursuing an independent autopsy funded by former NFL player and civil rights activist Colin Kaepernick.
The candlelight vigil, organized by the USM NAACP chapter, gathered a large crowd on campus to honor Reed. Attendees lit candles, shared memories and offered prayers in tribute.
“For me, I’d say it symbolizes how quickly a life can disappear. Throughout the service, the candle was lit, and at the end, we blew it out. Trey’s life got taken from him. So, I feel like it really symbolizes how much we actually take it for granted because life is so fragile, you only get one,” USM student Madison Mosley said.
The event featured songs, prayers and speeches from student leaders and community advocates, including Dr. Mary Hossley, vice president of the Forrest County NAACP.
“Even though Trey was enrolled at a different institution, tonight, he is one of us,” Hossley said. “I am certain that Trey would want us all to come together as one. Unity is the state of being united, forming a single, complete whole and living in harmony. I feel with all my heart tonight that this is the message that Trey wants us to take home with us tonight. Let us embrace this state of unity and together, from campus to campus, from student to student, and from family to family.”
The NAACP chapter here at USM welcomed other organizations and clubs to attend as well.
USM NAACP board member Brielan Terrell emphasized the importance of holding space for the community to grieve and reflect.
“It was more like a necessity,” Terrell said. “As an organization by Black people, for Black people and following the tragedy that happened to Trey Reed, it was our duty to hold this commemoration and honor him.”
Terrell also expressed that he hopes that the chapter’s efforts here will foster a sense of unity.
“I hope that it sends a message of unity. As unfortunate as it is, with great loss comes great unification after that loss,” Terrell said. “We come closer as not only the USM community, but a Hattiesburg community and send our feelings in our heartfelt condolences to the Delta State family, as well as the Trey Reed family.”
For USM senior Jalend Satcher, missing the event wasn’t an option.
“I feel, honestly, a sense of duty to attend,” said Satcher. “I will not feel right missing this event, simply because there’s so much going on these days and especially being that it’s close to home. It’ll be kind of tone deaf to miss this.”
As the vigil came to an end, a final prayer was offered, followed by the blowing out of the candles. Attendees stood shoulder to shoulder as candle flames flickered across the night as they listened to the final remarks.
“For me, I can’t really just pinpoint one specific moment; all of it meant a lot to me,” Satcher said. “Having all this big of a turnout, and everybody coming here on the same goals and the same idea–it really spoke a lot to me.”
