During a memorial service on Saturday, Virginia players shared stories and shed tears, while letting the world know how much they would dedicate the rest of their lives in their teammate's name.
In the words of University President Jim Ryan, the memorial was an opportunity to start the healing of our beloved university.
The football team and the entire community were devastated by the murders of three players on a charter bus after they returned from a field trip. The running back is in the hospital with a gunshot wound. Marlee Morgan, one of the students, was shot and is currently at home with her family.
Jones has been charged with three counts of second-degree murder and one count of using a firearm in the commission of a felony. He has been charged with two counts of malicious wounding, as well as additional gun related charges. He is in a jail in Virginia.
There was no mention of how the three died at the memorial. They didn't focus on the way they lived.
The pictures of all three players were displayed on stage. Ce Ce Winans sang "Goodness of God" while the MLK Community Choir performed.
Williams shared stories about their families telling them about their loved one. He showed her a video of his nephew, who was 10 at the time, getting out of the car and dancing in the parking lot. His confidence was never in question.
He wanted his grandmother to cook for him.
She made 18 scrambled eggs for him.
D' Sean wanted to be a Power Ranger when he was a kid. His parents bought him his costume, and he didn't take it off until after Thanksgiving, drawing a laugh from the crowd of 9,125, which included former Virginia coach Bronco Mendenhall and a large contingent of former Virginia football players.
Before players took the stage to say a few words about their fallen teammates, video clips of each player were shown. The memorial gave players the chance to speak about their teammates.
Bennett paused several times as he spoke about Davis, his big smile and how he would defend his side in any argument.
Bennett said that the loss would never be gone. We're learning how to manage it. I will remember the smile and do right by you and continue to chase our dreams of graduating and playing football. I'd like to see that smile of yours again. Unfortunately, I can't, but I know you are happy up there and I will do the same down here. I adore you brother.
Some people tell funny stories to honor their memories. A small community less than an hour from Charleston, Ridgeville is the hometown of Davis. New York was bigger than Davis' hometown.
Ridgeville sounded like it was the biggest city in the world, according to Gaines. I'm pretty sure there's only 2000 people there. There is a tattoo on his arm. Is that your area code? He said it was his exit. I was wondering if it was an exit. Why do you want to leave? I'm from that place.
The sense of humor that safety Donovan Johnson had made him want to tell funny stories about him.
He was fond of getting me on the field. I didn't get the call because we were doing scout. The coach looked at me and asked what I was doing. He wanted to know what the call was. I said I had him. I told him he was doing a good job.
As the play went on, he walked up and looked over at me, because he realized he wasn'tlitzing on that play. Do not do that again. I was happy to hear that.
Will Bettridge was very sad about the death of his high school and college teammate, Perry.
Bettridge said that he wanted to be like him because he was a role model to him. You were a rock star in the community, giving back and helping others. Each day I was able to show you your presence. You were the first one to be with me when I made a mistake. Your outlook on life remained the same.
I want to be like you in a number of ways. The world would be a better place with more D'Seans.
In a letter he wrote to him, the running back shared his thoughts about his friend.
You made our lives sparkle in the sky. "You had a special gift when it came to talking to people, making them laugh, making them feel loved, it didn't matter if it was someone you didn't know at all, you could talk to them like you knew them for a long time." You made them happy and your joy was infectious. It was your world, and you were living in it.
He promised for brighter days to come in his closing remarks.
We will turn today's tragedy into tomorrow's triumph. We have a mission that requires a lot of responsibility and there is hope. Great joy will come in the morning as weeping will last for the night. We have the responsibility to rebuild this community and program on the legacy of their stars in order to bring light to the world.
I am looking forward to the strength, motivation, courage and love that you all will provide as we triumph in the days to come. We will celebrate on this side each and every day with the light of your stars.
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