Chandler, Davis, Perry: An Incredibly Sad Day at #UVA #UVAStrong
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA — One of the saddest events in recent memory took place in Charlottesville, Va. yesterday as three members of the University of Virginia’s football team where remembered at a large memorial service six days after being murdered by a classmate on Sunday, November 13, 2022.
Main Street in Charlottesville was empty and many businesses closed during the memorial service, which started at 3:30 p.m. at John Paul Jones Arena. Businesses featured signs in front with the names and jersey numbers of the departed. The arena was full as the memorial service began with reflective music sung by UVA’s student choirs and a local community choir.
🌹 Devin Chandler, Lavel Davis Jr. and D’Sean Perry were remembered by friends, teammates and the University of Virginia’s larger community. The families of Chandler, Davis and Perry were also present and many were seen mourning in the front rows of the two hour memorial service. Clear to see amongst the family members were the mothers, brothers, uncles and grandmothers in the Chandler, Davis and Perry families.
Their presence was a jolting reminder of how fragile life is and how shockingly easy it is to shatter a family in seconds with senseless violent action. The Chandler, Davis and Perry families were a mirror for every family present and a reminder days before Thanksgiving of the fragility of life, the futility and the sadness of this particular moment and the value of shared grieving.
In the lobby of John Paul Jones Arena, event staff handed all who attended three things: A wristband that served as an orange light in the darkness, a small orange lapel ribbon, and a card with the photos of Devin Chandler, Lavel Davis Jr. and D’Sean Perry on one side and the memorial program on the other side (seen below).
The devastating years of birth and death listed under the photos and names of the departed were difficult to comprehend: Devin Chandler and Lavel Davis, Jr. were born in 2002. D’Sean Perry was born in 2000. The jarring reminders of the youth of the departed and their families was unshakable to many attendees and mentioned by several speakers.
The official GoFundMe accounts to assist the families can be found here:
🌹Devin Chandler click here
🌹Lavel Davis, Jr. click here
🌹D’Sean Perry click here
According to a social media post by Dekeya White, the cousin of Devin Chandler, the funeral for Devin Keith Chandler (07/18/02 🌹 11/13/22) will take place on Sunday, Nov. 27 in Virginia Beach at Rock Church at Kempsville Road. Flowers can be sent to Knox-Hill Mortuary at 568 Halifax Street, Emporia, Va 23847.
CeCe Winans sang during the memorial ceremony. A student read the Langston Hughes (1901-1967) poem Life Is Fine which contains the lines:
So since I'm still here livin',
I guess I will live on.
I could've died for love—
But for livin' I was born
Though you may hear me holler,
And you may see me cry—
I'll be dogged, sweet baby,
If you gonna see me die.
Life is fine!
Sitting rows behind the family and members of the University of Virginia football team were community leaders and elected officials. The group included Gov. Glenn Youngkin, Lt. Governor Winsome Sears, Attorney General Jason Miyares, former Lt. Governor Justin Fairfax, State Senator Creigh Deeds, Del. Sally Hudson and Sen. Tim Kaine.
Please send your news, releases, tips, ideas and pitches to BlackVirginiaNews@gmail.com. 🌹Keep Devin Chandler, Lavel Davis Jr. and D’Sean Perry and their families in your prayers. Thank you.