MUW mourns fire victims Sherita McGee, a student at Mississippi University for Women, lights her candle on the MUW campus as the candlelight vigil begins at Pope Dining Hall for four students who died in a weekend hotel fire in Hoover, Ala. / Kelly Tippett
Pope Dining Hall was packed Wednesday night as Mississippi University for Women bid farewell to four students lost in a hotel fire Saturday in the Birmingham, Ala. area.
Rows of students and guests lined the back of the room after all the seats had been taken to hear friends speak about Jamelia Brown, Jaslynn McGee, Alondan “Angel” Turner and Catherine Ann Muse. Afterward, the crowd moved outside for a brief candlelight vigil that was cut short by the first drops of an evening rainstorm.
MUW President Dr. Claudia Limbert opened the program with a brief statement, urging students and faculty to cherish the time spent with the four freshmen and “profit from the experience of having them here.”
“Let’s be grateful we had these women in our lives just a little while,” she told the audience before sitting to hear a pair of songs from the United Harmony Gospel Choir.
Personal friends and fellow students of each of the four women offered brief reflections on their lives and personalities before lighting a candle for each of the departed.
“Jamelia was a person you couldn’t take at face value,” said Jessica Baker, a member of the W Reps social club with Brown. “The person you had to talk to wasn’t the person you thought she was.”
Kristen Barnes, president of the MUW Student Government Association, spoke of her friend, McGee.
“Jaslynn lifted the hearts of so many people around her. She had a style and a special aura about her. Because of the love she gave, there will always be memories of her,” said Barnes.
Quintilla Fowler, secretary of the Highlander Social Club, emphasized Muse’s positive attitude.
“Please remember Cathy was never a sad person. I can still remember her joking in the cafeteria or bouncing and dancing around campus,” said Fowler.
Natalia Baldizon recalled Turner’s love of life.
“Everything she did, she did to the fullest. We all need to take those memories and cherish them forever,” said Baldizon.
A brief sermon was delivered by the Rev. Tony Montgomery, pastor of Missionary Union Baptist Church in Columbus.
Montgomery’s message focused on God’s ownership of everything and everybody on Earth, and His ability to take what He has given at any moment.
“One response you may have to this tragedy is ‘God, how could you?’ How could he take our friends?’ (Because) He gave them to you,” said Montgomery. “God planted four beautiful flowers and he knew what garden he had put them in. They were at The W. He plucked four beautiful roses and set them on a table in His presence.”
Outside, every guest lit his or her candle and recollected memories of their fallen classmates.
Sanwel Kapsandor, an MUW junior nursing major from Salt Lake City, knew Muse and Turner.
“They were good girls. I used to teach Cat math. They were goal oriented, full of life, down to earth kind of people. Always socializing and willing to meet new people,” he said.
Linda Segrest and James Allen are both teachers in the music department at MUW. Segrest taught Turner and McGee piano while Muse and Brown had just begun Allen’s music appreciation class, which had only met twice before the weekend.
“They were sweet girls — excited and wanted to learn the piano. I can’t say enough good things about them,” said Segrest.
Allen said Muse and Brown, who were in his freshman seminar class last year, were “fine students.”
Bianca Forest, a freshman nursing major from West Point, had class with Brown and McGee but didn’t know either personally.
“I’m just here to pay my respects,” said Forest.
Sarah Bunce, a junior English major from Senatobia was there to do the same.
“I’m just here to show support for all the people and their families here. I think it’s something we need to do. The loss of anyone touches me personally,” she said.
Drew Heard, a junior student at Mississippi State University, was friends with Turner, McGee and Muse.
“Cathy was an outgoing young lady. Every time you saw Cathy she was happy. I understand her theater major,” said Heard. “Alondan, she was kind of quiet, but she’d get in a rhythm or whatever. She was an outgoing young lady as well. Jaslynn was somewhat of a leader, outspoken and what she meant is what she meant.”
Limbert says no plans have been made to establish a permanent memorial for the four students, nor have any funds been established in their names. But she said the turnout for Wednesday’s vigil spoke volumes of the four women’s impact.
“It’s wonderful to see this many people come out tonight. It says a lot for our community and our campus,” she said.
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