The University Chapel overflowed Sunday as many generations of the extended Morgan community gathered for the Annual Candle Light Memorial Service, led by the Rev. Dr. Bernard Keels, director of the Chapel, and Jacqueline L. Lawson, president of the Morgan State University National Alumni Association.
“Your Morgan family loves you,” Lawson, Class of 1975, said in welcoming those gathered to remember more than 100 people who had been students, faculty and staff members from as long ago as the Class of 1933 – Naomi Heath Shafer – who died since last year’s Homecoming Week. They also remembered two young students who died this year in tragic circumstances, Karyn L. Washington, a public relations student who took her own life in April, and Marquese Meadow, an entering freshman on the football team who died after collapsing during a workout in August.
Commenting on the turnout, Lawson said: “It says that people love Morgan and cherish the time they spent here and look forward to honoring those who came along with them, those who they studied under and people whose memories are so fixed in their minds that they want to honor them and be a part of this service.”
Following rousing gospel music from the Voices of Praise and taking his text from both scripture and Sly and the Family Stone, Keels preached “It’s a Family Affair.”
“It’s good for us to realize that we’re not in this thing by ourselves,” he said, adding later: “We are meant to be in community.”
The MSU Choir, under the direction of Dr. Eric Conway, sang the service to a close with its rendition of “Break Every Chain,” after which the celebrants strolled to the University Student Center for repast and reunions.
