Mark Braboy
Associate Editor
On a chilly Tuesday night, hundreds of students gathered around the monument of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. on the Gibbs-Green Walkway for a candlelight vigil in honor of former JSU Tigers defensive back and student, Travis Woods.
Wood’s friends and family were among the somber crowd along with the JSU Tigers football team and the Upsilon Epsilon chapter of Omega Psi Phi fraternity Inc.
At 7:11pm, the fraternity opened the evening with several of their signature hymns, followed by a prayer by JSU campus minister, Rev. Elbert McGowan.
Heavy hearts and profound sorrow filled the air of the night as the Tiger football team, led by cornerback Rashad Davis, the victims cousin, LaDonna Washington, and the Upsilon Epsilon chapter, each paid tribute to Woods, respectively.
“He’s the one person who worked hard for what he had. Nobody gave him anything. They always said you was too small. Said you wasn’t big enough. But just like the man I know he is, he proved ‘em wrong,” said Davis.
Washington spoke to the crowd of mourners on behalf of Wood’s family.
“We know you all are brothers. We know you all are friends but he paid the ultimate sacrifice. He lost his life. We know we gained a family but we lost a member of our family,” said Washington.
According to reports, Woods was shot after an altercation outside of a party near Alcorn State University on Feb. 1. He was pronounced dead when he arrived at Claiborne County Hospital that morning.
A cell phone video of the brutal altercation has been circulating on the local media outlets. So far one arrest has been made.
“I believe that it was a humbling experience to see all of the JSU students all showing respect for this young man’s death. He was a fellow JSU Tiger and our prayers will always go out to his family,” said Avi’yam Jordan, a senior mass communications major from Chicago, Ill.
The event concluded with the chapter collecting donations for Wood’s family. The Upsilon Epsilon chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. has created a campaign powered by Go Fund Me in order to raise money for the family of Woods to pay for funeral costs and other needs.
The chapter has raised over $8,300 thus far. To donate to the Woods family, go to www.gofundme.com/l9nutc.
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