Allan Appel Photo
Marquell Banks’ memorial stones at the Fair Haven School.
His gym teacher framed his jersey in perpetuity in the school gym. All his teammates wear the #5 permanently on their uniforms. His woodworking teacher made a bench of poplar to be placed in the main lobby. And a dogwood tree with more than 200 supporting stones, each with a message from students and teachers who loved and remember him, now stands in front of the school.
So Marquell Banks was celebrated in a tear-and-memory-filled ceremony at the Fair Haven School on Wednesday afternoon.
More than 200 sixth, seventh, and eighth-graders gathered in the school auditorium to read poetry, see family slides, and be inspired by the example of the popular 13-year-old, who was the city’s 28th homicide victim last year.
Family Photo
Marquell “Quelly” Banks.
Until Wednesday’s event, his mother, Alicia Roberts, had not been able to set foot in the school where her son was much loved and admired.
Click here and here for stories on the Oct. 23 shooting death and here for the funeral and tribute to the seventh-grader who was celebrated as friendly, respectful, funny child passionate about basketball, technology, art, and his family.
Marquell Banks’ mother Alicia Roberts and his basketball coach Travis Gale. “This is going to be here for a long time,” he said.
Roberts said she remainsnot only broken up by her loss, but dissatisfied at the direction of the ongoing criminal prosecution. Murder charges in the case were dropped early this month against Science Burrus to first-degree manslaughter.
“I don’t feel it was an accident. The justice system didn’t work in my favor,” she said after the ceremony.
But the order of the day was celebration and inspiration. Marquell’s wood shop teacher Oliver Marshmon carved a shining memorial bench of poplar that will be placed in front of the clock in the center of the school’s grand lobby. He said it was particularly tragic that the death occurred just when “Quelly,” as he was known, was blossoming as a student and athlete.
Kids and teachers barely held back tears as they placed message-bearing stones at the base of a 12-foot dogwood that now graces the school’s front lawn and will flower every spring.
“Your stones will support this tree to keep Marquell at the center of our hearts,” said Principal Margaret-Mary Gethings.
“When someone was angry or sad, he never ignored them,” said teammate Vinshon Crenshaw (standing next to Coach Gale.)
Then the students went down to the gym for the first-ever student-faculty basketball game in honor of Number Five, whose number each player was wearing. Gethings said the game may become an annual memorial event.