'Don't be angry, don't be sad': Hundreds remember scholar allegedly killed by boyfriend
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- Hundreds of people filled North Forest High School auditorium Thursday night to celebrate the life of Devon Wade, a youth mentor and scholar who overcame so much.
Wade, 28, was shot to death last weekend after an argument with his boyfriend, according to the Harris County Sheriff's Office. Mario Jarrell Williams, 29, is charged with murder. Investigators believe Williams was angry after Wade asked him to leave his Atascocita home several times. Wade's twin brother heard the gunshots and found him.
At the memorial service, there was no mention of the circumstances surrounding Wade's death. Instead, friends paid tribute to his life.
"He gave nothing but love to all of us, but he expected us to give back and come back," said one woman from a podium on stage.
It's something he did.
RELATED: Accomplished scholar killed by boyfriend, deputies say
He often returned to what is now North Forest High School and mentored students. When he walked the halls, the school was named M.B. Smiley. Both his parents were incarcerated and he found hope in the program "No More Victims." He spoke with Eyewitness News about it in 2010.
"Just really solidified for me that I wanted to do something for my community," Wade said at the time.
Wade was a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., an honors graduate from Louisiana State University and a Truman Scholar. Most recently, he was a doctoral candidate at Columbia University. His family says he will be awarded his Ph.D. posthumously.
"Don't be angry. Don't be sad. Be proudful that you knew a man named Devon Wade," another woman said.
The message was uplifting until the end when the crowd moved outside and sang the old Smiley school song before releasing dozens of red and white balloons.
