A UTM student was found dead in a shed at his off-campus Martin residence on Tuesday, Dec. 2.
Kellen Phillips, 20, of Savannah, Tennessee, was a junior Biology major and a member of Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity at UTM.
A candlelight vigil was held outside the University Center at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 3. Joined by other members of the Greek community, members of Pi Kappa Alpha formed a circle and paid tribute to their brother. The memorial ceremony then moved to the ballroom of the UC, where Jacob Harris, chapter president of Pi Kappa Alpha, spoke for a moment about Phillips.
Harris then called on Seth Waterfield, a member of AGR and Greeks for God. Waterfield gave a short sermon, encouraging the entire Greek community to come together and comfort the brothers of Pi Kappa Alpha.
After the memorial, Phillips’ brothers praised his giving nature.
“I couldn’t have had a greater privilege than to have Kellen as a pledge brother. He was always there for me through the good and the bad. When you hear about a guy giving someone the shirt off his back, that was Kellen. I’m so thankful for the time I had with him, and he will be truly missed,” said Aaron Lowery of Trenton.
Harrison McCord of Jackson said, “Kellen had such passionate love for his brothers. If you ever needed anything, he’d give you that, plus more. I have never met anyone in my life who was so willing to help a brother out. He would drive for hours if I was stuck on the side of the road. He showed me what love for a brother truly was.”
In a campuswide email sent earlier Wednesday, Chancellor Tom Rakes said, “Our entire community is saddened at the tragic death of Kellen Phillips. We extend our thoughts and prayers to Kellen’s family and friends at this time and the days ahead.”
UPDATE: Visitation for Kellen Phillips will be today, Dec. 5 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., and tomorrow, Dec. 6 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Sharon Baptist Church in Savannah, Tenn. The funeral service will be held tomorrow, Dec. 6 at 3 p.m.
