clarion.brevard.edu
Volume 83, Issue 17 Web Edition SERVING BREVARD COLLEGE SINCE 1935
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January 24, 2018
'Love Like Sweezy'
Celebrating the life of Rakeem Sweezy
By Calum McAndrew
Managing Editor
“To the family, I want to thank you,” BC
Associate Professor of Political Communications
Ralph Hamlett began. “Thank you for sharing
Sweezy with this campus, and with me.”
On Jan. 23, a little over a month after the
tragic death of 20-year-old Brevard College
student Rakeem Sweezy, family, staff, faculty
and students of the college gathered at 4:30
p.m. in the Porter Center for Performing Arts
at Brevard College to celebrate the life of the
much loved student.
Campus Minister Sharad Creasman welcomed
the audience to the ceremony by introducing the
family of Sweezy and thanking the audience for
coming. Creasman then said a prayer, before
handing the stage to BC President David Joyce.
“We don’t know why Sweezy, all that he did
and all that he was for each one of us, died at
Marchers peacefully walk down sidewalks on both
sides of Baltimore Ave. for the Women’s March in
Asheville this past weekend, chanting, “Hey hey, ho
ho, all this hate has got to go!” See the full article
on page 5.
such an early age,” Joyce said. “But we know
that he loved us and we loved him, and we know
that his God loves us and will suffer with us.
“He heals the pain with us, he gives us hope,
redemption and celebration,” Joyce said. “Each
one of us will carry a piece of Sweezy with us.”
The next speaker to offer a reflection was
Ralph Hamlett. He recalled Sweezy’s smile, his
unique laugh, his hugs and the impact he had on
every moment he spent at BC. These themes
were repeated from person to person throughout
the evening.
“We’re wearing bracelets, and it says “Love
Like Sweezy,”” Hamlett said, referring to
blue bracelets that had been handed out at the
beginning of the ceremony. “Let’s all follow in
Sweezy’s path. Let’s love like Sweezy. Let’s
love like our colleague, our brother, our friend.”
Dean of Students Debora D’Anna was the
next speaker to share her memories of Sweezy.
“I had a really difficult time trying to figure
out what to say,” D’Anna said. “Not because I
didn’t have enough to say, but because I have
too much to say.
“[I have] So many great memories and stories
of Sweezy,” D’Anna said. “So many times he
influenced me in such a positive way.”
The final reflection of the evening came from
Associate Professor of Theatre Brandon Smith,
who had been Sweezy’s academic advisor.
Smith said. “Within a week of meeting Sweezy,
he greeted me with one of his trademark bear
hugs and he told me that he loved me.” Smith
said. “Sweezy had a way of fast tracking
relationships.
“I was blessed to be able to work with him on
plays, dances with the President and his wife for
the Gala, and just tons of campus projects in and
outside of the class,” Smith said.
The BC concert choir performed the songs
“Bright Morning Stars,” and “My Good
Lord’s Done Been Here,” and his friends and
fellow students Lily Bartleson and K’Nique
Eichelberger sang “The Prayer.”
A “Celebration of Life” video with a
compilation of photos and videos of Sweezy
with his friends was played to the audience in
the Porter Center as the event began to conclude.
David Joyce then returned to the stage and said
a Benediction and invited those in attendance
to dinner in the Brevard College Dining Hall to
continue the celebration of Sweezy’s life.
“We’ve come here to celebrate the life of
Rakeem “Dimples” Sweezy,” Sharad Creasman
said at the beginning of the evening. The next
hour was a fitting celebration for a wonderful
life, and a reminder for all to “Love Like
Sweezy.”
Theatre Professor Brandon Smith tells of his fondest memories with Sweezy. More photos can be found on page 4.