Student Presumed Dead in South Africa
Reported Missing After Swept Into Ocean; Campus Gathers in Prayer
UPDATED: Tuesday, Sept. 3, 1:45 p.m.
Terrance Davis (COL ’10), who was spending his fall semester abroad at the University of Cape Town in South Africa, was swept into the ocean amid stormy conditions Monday morning and is presumed drowned by South Africa’s sea rescue service.
The 20-year-old was walking along a rocky beach in Harkerville, located approximately 275 miles east of Cape Town, on Monday morning when a “freak wave” dragged him into the water, said Ray Farnham, commander of the Plettenberg Bay Station of the National Sea Rescue Institute, early this morning. The incident was reported to authorities at 11:45 a.m. local time.
Davis was on a one-week vacation with fellow Georgetown student Ellie Gunderson (COL ’10) when the incident occurred.
Farnham said that upon learning of the accident, search and rescue crews canvassed the area with two helicopters and 10 land crews until dark with no results. He said the search would begin again at 10 or 11 a.m., local time, as soon as the tide subsided. The water had been particularly ferocious of late, he added, with waves reaching as high as 30 feet.
Farnham said Friday morning that the seas were especially rough on and that the search has been put on hold until late Saturday or Sunday.
"We have searched every single day since he disappeared," he said. "We will continue the formal search until Monday, and will continue an unofficial search until we find something."
The U.S. Consulate in Cape Town said early this morning that it was only permitted to release updates to Davis’ parents. Reached yesterday evening, Davis’ mother, Trala Branch, and grandmother declined to comment.
Lara Hoffenberg, a representative from the University of Cape Town, said the school would provide trauma counseling to each of the other 10 Georgetown students in the program.
Vice President for Student Affairs Todd Olson said that the Office of International Programs will also provided counseling for Georgetown students studying abroad in Cape Town and at other study abroad programs around the world.
He also added that Counseling and Psychiatric Services counselors are available for students on campus.
"Counseling staff, chaplains in residence and residence life staff are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to respond to students in need of personal support," Olson said.
A resident of Osceola, Ark., Davis graduated from Osceola Senior High School and is majoring in sociology and theatre and performance art studies.
Before going abroad, Davis served as director of publicity for The Fire This Time, Black Ensemble Theatre and Black Student Alliance. He was also actively involved in the GU Gospel Choir, a peer mentorship program, NAACP, Movements of Grace and Black Movements Dance Theatre, a joint program between Georgetown and the Duke Ellington School of the Arts. He began his semester in Cape Town in mid-July after working as an intern for Sen. Mark Pryor (D-Ark.) in his Washington, D.C. office.
“You will never find somebody with his enthusiasm in this world,” said Hector Cendejas-Vigliotti (COL ’10). “I never saw him sad or down.”
Over 350 students, faculty and staff crowded into St. William’s Chapel just after 6:30 p.m. yesterday for a prayer service, filling the chapel to capacity and leaving many to stand in the foyer of Copley Hall.
Kathy Bellows, director of the Office of International Programs, said that she had spoken with his family and that they were happy the Georgetown community had come together.
Reverend Constance Wheeler, Protestant chaplaincy director, opened the service.
“We have come today on a very hopeful day,” she said. “We are not here to memorialize, just to pray for hope.”
Joined by several members of campus ministry, students prayed for Davis’ safe homecoming.
Fr. Kevin O’Brien, S.J., director of campus ministry, led the congregation in Psalm 23.
“We are all one tonight,” he said. “Christian, Jewish, Muslim, black, white and everything in between, we are all one tonight, and we are here together to pray for Terrance.”
The members of Georgetown’s Gospel Choir paid tribute to Davis, their director last year, with three hymns, beginning with “I Need You to Survive.” REL, the a cappella groups Davis founded, also performed.
“Whatever happens, Terrance is all right.” Dennis Williams, director and associate dean of students, said. “It’s up to us to live up to what he gave us.”
While the service began with a notably somber tone, with many students crying and holding each other, it ended with friends sharing stories and speaking about Davis’ vibrant energy.
“This room is too quiet for the Terrance I know,” one student shouted, causing the room to burst into applause.
“The best word I can think of to describe Terrance is flamboyant,” another student said at the service. “Only because flamboyant means burning brightly, and that was Terrance did — he filled you with warmth and cheer.”
Many described his impassioned commitment to his Christian faith.
Wheeler said she became exhausted watching him direct the choir with such enthusiasm. “I offered to pay him something for his work, but he said, ‘I do it for the Lord, and the Lord is the only payment I will take,’” she said.
“Terrance brought me closer to God, helped me open up and taught me that life is too short to hold anger or grudges,” Akuoma Nwadike (COL ’11) said in an e-mail. “So young, yet so wise, he made me feel like I could do anything. All you had to do was smile, trust, pray and face the challenge head-on.”
One thing fondly recalled at the ceremony was Davis’ signature hug. “It didn’t matter if you were a teacher or a student or whatever — he was giving you a hug,” one student said.
“He would come running down the hall and give me a hug and knock me over every time I saw him, and once I asked him why he was also hugging people, and he told me, ‘I have to remind you of my love for you,’” another remembered.
Throughout the afternoon, Davis’ friends left messages on his Facebook profile offering kind words and prayers for his safety.
Davis’ friends say they were moved by the service and continue to pray for his safe return.
“When I got there, there were a lot of people there, and I was happy to see that there were so many people that had the experience of knowing Terrance,” said Paul Notice (SFS ’09). “It’s really been a blessing to have him in my life.”
Two additional prayer services will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 3. The first prayer service will be at 4 p.m. in St. William's Chapel, with a second service at 7:30 p.m. on Copley Lawn.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with Terrance, his family and everyone in our community during this difficult time," said Olson.
— Hoya Staff Writers Andrew Dwulet and Victoria Fosdal contributed to this report.
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Sep 02 2008 at 6:01 a.m.
Please join everyone and pray for his safe return.
Sep 02 2008 at 11:30 a.m.
So I am a different type of artist that yall have never heard
I practice non-violence and don’t say hateful things like the n-word
But the death of those with unfulfilled potential is difficult
Two young hoyas struck down by the sea and a bolt
Of lightning;
I am reminded of how it takes one breath to go from life to death
Recently I have been full of hate, and I hate it
The randomness of life might make you think it is worth it
But that is the beauty of it as well
And I know that those who died young are above us and hell
My thoughts and prayers go out to their families and friends
And hope that time mends;
Their hurt and pain
Now I didn’t know Terrance Davis and wasn’t best friends with Mike Jurist
But their sad untimely ending makes my eyes mist
It reminds me of my own battle with depression
Where I was thinking daily of jumping off a bridge and ending it all
With one quick painless fall
But the only thing that kept me going was hope
Hope for something better, the belief that I can do some real good.
So whether the good die young in the jungle, burbs, or hood
Let’s honor them from this moment forward
With our words, actions, minds, bodies, and souls.
Sep 02 2008 at 1:03 p.m.
Just wanted to say thank you for writing such a beautiful article about Terrance. The entire thing was completely true. Right now the search for his body continues but as I'm sure you all know, he is presumed dead. Please continue to pray for his family because they really need all the prayers they can get right now. I love you all so much and thank you so much for all of the prayers and support.
Ellie
Sep 02 2008 at 4:57 p.m.
I just want to say THANX,to everyone for their outreach of prayers, and concern. Terrance,was a wonderful young man. He graduated with my daughter(Sharde') here in Osceola 2006. We all love and are going to miss him if that be the case. But, in the meantime we are hopeful for his family's sake, for we know that the God we serve is able to do all things if it is his will. My heart truely aches for his mother and the entire family. Also, for his schoolmates. They had a close bond in their class. Words can not express our heartfelt sympathy in Osceola.
Sep 02 2008 at 5:42 p.m.
terence lived in the same Residence as I, here in Cape Town. I first met him in the laundry room with a female friend of his. They were a jolly couple. I didn't talk to them but just watched them aas they went about their laundry, laughing, talking and just having a good time. I couldn't help but smile. I later found him there alone and we just made small talk.He is a friendly and polite guy, and he loved to laugh.As I constantly came in to check on my clothes, I could hear him sing as I approuched, I don't know if he was aware that he could be heard a distance off. Needless to say, Im not surprised he was part of a choir and has a passion for music. From then on I would say hi whenever I met him. I would see him often on campus with the same friend I met in the laundry room, they are always cheerful. today, we were informed by our warden about what had happened and a prayer was offered. We all kept wondering who it is. I was shocked when I saw the picture with this article. He was the only exchange student I ever had a conversation with although brief. his laughter still rings in my head.
Im keeping him in my prayers and am praying and hoping for the best. Im also praying for strength and hope for his family and friends. God bless and be with you all.
Sep 02 2008 at 6:10 p.m.
Thank you for giving me a piece of Terrance right here in Ohio. Having met Terrance practically his first day at the university as a Community Scholar living in Copley (where I was a Chaplain-in-Residence at the time), I saw what wonderful potential he brought to us on the hilltop. Hearing all that he's done in only a couple years at Georgetown, I know it's his passion, love and faith that fill us all with hope even now.
I encourage us all to speak life and love daily to all persons around us and to keep faith, even in the midst of doubt, anger and confusion. We bless God for Terrance and for sharing in his life. I know I will treasure eternally those wonderful conversations we shared that summer as I began to learn just who this magnificent little creature with the humongous spirit and heart was. I am forever changed by his presence and pouring into my life.
Stay encouraged, Georgetown family and live love daily!
Blessings,
Rev. LaKendra Hardware
Sep 02 2008 at 6:38 p.m.
I am sending out this heart felt sympathy to each and everyone who Terrance had touched. My heart is also aching in this time of sorrow. I personally knew Terrance as well. I was introduced to Terrance through the hallways of Osceola Junior High School. I was an Instructional Assistant and he was around 12 or 13. As Terrance matured and went on to Osceola High School, every time he would see me he would always give me his signature hug. His smiled just brighten whomever he came in contact with. Terrance had Christ written all over him. In his way of walk, his talk, and his whole personality just speaks Christ all over him.
As the post stated earlier, "God and only God is able to do all things."
I will continue to pray for his family and friends because I know through prayer there is strength and comfort.
GOD BLESS EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU!!!!
Sep 02 2008 at 6:56 p.m.
People like Terrance are few and far between. I was never introduced to him, we never had a class together, and we never hung out one on one. But I'll never forget riding with him on the elevator in Lauinger last year when he talked to me as if we were close friends. He spoke with such an outpouring of love to someone he had never met...and that is such a gift. Terrance could light up the darkest room and the first time we met, I couldn't help but smile for the rest of the night. I will never forget his smile, his enthusiasm, and his rare gift of sharing love and happiness with anyone and everyone. What an amazing person. Love you Terrance...
Sep 02 2008 at 7:18 p.m.
Let me first say-God is able to do exceedingly and abundantly above all we could ever ask...and becasue I wholeheartedly believe that, I am asking God to bring peace into the lives of all those who are blessed to know Terrance and most importantly to his family. As you have all come to know this young man, it is no suprise that his life is a beacon of light for us all. From a young boy in Osceola-tagging behind me in the choir to the great young man he has grown to be-TERRANCE STANDS TALL FOR GOD! I am blessed to see so many of you share how he's impacted your lives in the most positive way. It speaks leaps and bounds about his "genuine" desire to please God by loving people. Of all the young people I have ever encountered he is the most vibrant by far,...full of compassion and always willing to share it. As this moment is before us, let us remember the words shared on his voicemail..."Everything happens for a reason and all things work together for the good." Continue to pray as we all join together, both near and far, in hope that God strengthens his family.
Sep 02 2008 at 7:19 p.m.
Let me first say-God is able to do exceedingly and abundantly above all we could ever ask...and becasue I wholeheartedly believe that, I am asking God to bring peace into the lives of all those who are blessed to know Terrance and most importantly to his family. As you have all come to know this young man, it is no suprise that his life is a beacon of light for us all. From a young boy in Osceola-tagging behind me in the choir to the great young man he has grown to be-TERRANCE STANDS TALL FOR GOD! I am blessed to see so many of you share how he's impacted your lives in the most positive way. It speaks leaps and bounds about his "genuine" desire to please God by loving people. Of all the young people I have ever encountered he is the most vibrant by far,...full of compassion and always willing to share it. As this moment is before us, let us remember the words shared on his voicemail..."Everything happens for a reason and all things work together for the good." Continue to pray as we all join together, both near and far, in hope that God strengthens his family.
Melissa