Shaw University student and former cheerleader honored at pep rally
A Shaw University student and former cheerleader was honored in a packed CC Spaulding Gym for a memorial pep really, where she was remembered for her vibrant personality.
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Keyona Charlissa Verdell, 22, was struck by a car on New Hope Church Road in Raleigh around 6:15 p.m. on Monday, officials said.
Shaw student Bryant Williams, 26, died last month in a motorcycle accident. He was a third-year student and a member of the band. More than 100 people attended a vigil in his honor, including his five-year-old daughter.
The Shaw cheerleading squad showcased routines Thursday afternoon at the rally, including routines that were choreographed by Verdell.
The 22-year-old had taken the semester off but was an active member of the squad behind the scenes.
“Every time Keyona would come home, I would have her doing cheers at the grocery store, in front of the church, wherever, because it always put a smile on all of our faces,” said Vedell’s mother, Rosie. “If I was in a sad mood, it would brighten me up every time. It was something with her and cheering. It connected and did something to me.”
Verdell's funeral service is scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday at Winston-Salem State University.
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