FSU Holds Vigil Ceremony for Mia Barfield and Radiance Ellis
posted by Westley Reaves Jr. | September 11, 2023 | In NewsOn August 26, Mia Barfield, a senior from Greenville, NC majoring in forensic science passed away. The next day, August 27, another FSU senior student, Radiance Ellis from Fayetteville, NC passed away. That weekend all student events and activities were postponed or cancelled when the news of the deaths was announced.
FSU Chancellor Darrell Allison announced there would be a memorial for students and their families on September 6 at 8 p.m. The Student Government Association hosted the vigil at the Rudolph Jones Student Center Amphitheater. The vigil had a large attendance in showing support for the students who passed and their families. The entire amphitheater was filled with students, staff, campus police, and more.
SGA President Maya Martin opened the vigil.
Martin said, “Even if they are no longer here physically, their memory lives on in our hearts and in the stories we share.”
She then allowed several students, and some family members, to speak. Many explained how good of a student Barfield was, and how she always came to class with impressive style.
Ellis’s father, an alum of FSU, spoke about his daughter being a fighter and told attendees that Radiance, who had just had surgery, still attended her daughter’s football game to see her play her instrument even though she was not well.
After moving tributes from students and family about both Barfield and Ellis, staff handed out candles. Every single person in attendance had a lit candle in their hand. A lot of people were quiet in prayer or a moment of silence.
SGA President Martin then gave a final remark and asked everyone at once to blow out their candle. That concluded the vigil, and for a long period afterwards there was silence, and then one after another, people started to walk up to the family members. They were given their own seating at the front of the vigil. A lot of people gave out hugs and prayers to each other, some embracing for long periods of time.
Both funeral arrangements have been made. The service for Mia Tianna Barfield, 22, was at 1 p.m. September 9 at Salvation & Praise Full Gospel Church, 9243 W. Marlboro Road in Farmville. The service for Radiance Ashleigh-Janele Ellis, 32, was at noon September 8 at Cape Fear Conference B Headquarters, 10225 Fayetteville Road in Raeford.
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