Issue date: 5/9/07 Section: News

Media Credit: Mary Chou Kebret Tekle, shown in the framed photograph, was remembered at a Wednesday night memorial service held to honor her life. Tekle died on May 3. [Click to enlarge]

Media Credit: Mary Chou Rashaund Martin, a senior communications major and Omega Psi Phi member, plays music as people enter the University Union Redwood Room to remember Kebret Tekle on Wednesday. [Click to enlarge]

The room was filled with tears, laughter and vivid memories.

Inside, the life of Kebret Tekle - a woman described by those who knew her as beautiful, creative, humorous and loving - was remembered.

The Sacramento State student's life ended May 3 after a stray bullet was shot during an alleged gang altercation at a nearby nightclub. Police described her as an innocent victim.

Upon invitation from her friends and family, the campus community gathered on Wednesday in the University Redwood Room to celebrate her life.

"Though the weight of this pain is so heavy, and the death of my sister is so unfair, I want you all to please celebrate her life," said Sessen Tekle, her older sister. "Please remember her smile. Please remember her laughter. Please remember her kind, caring, nurturing, giving spirit. I want you to carry her in your hearts forever, because I know that's what she wants."

"On behalf of my family, we'd like to thank all of you, for your love and support," she said. "It's so clear to me that Kebret was loved by so many people."

Her younger cousin, who described Tekle as a sister, recalled their experiences during their youth.

Remembering Tekle's creativity, she shared how the two, along with Sessen and Tekle's twin sister Shewit, would make up game shows and choreograph dances in order to entertain their fathers.

Her cousin recalled a time when the two were dancing "crazy" on a mattress at home. A fall onto a nail hanging from the bed resulted in the development of a 2-inch scar on her leg. But she said Tekle kept "cracking jokes" so that she wouldn't be afraid of the injury.

"I'm so lucky and blessed to have a memory of Kebret engraved in my body and in my heart," she said through tears.

The music of Beyoncé - Tekle's favorite artist - filled the room, which was decorated with pink and green balloons, the colors of her sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha.

Throughout the service, some cried in solitude as they were comforted by friends, while others smiled with strength.

Shirts decorated with Tekle's smile were worn by friends, including her sorority sisters of the Eta Lambda chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha.

Alpha Kappa Alpha members remembered their sorority sister with love.

"She was a beautiful girl," said Monique Ford of Alpha Kappa Alpha. "She was so carefree. We love you. We miss you."

Quoting John 4:16 from the Bible, one Alpha Kappa Alpha member said the passage reminded her of Tekle. "Kebret was love," she said. "(Kebret is) a person who loved everyone."

A poem, presented by another Alpha Kappa Alpha sister, described Tekle as "a guardian angel who always knew what to say."

"She is irreplaceable," the Alpha Kappa Alpha member said. "My guardian angel, I wish you could've stayed, but I know you're in a better place.

Tekle, who loved sushi California Rolls without avocado and sugarfree Red Bulls, was active in Sac State's National Pan-Hellenic Council. Members of the council remembered her as a passionate woman full of life.

"We come here with heavy hearts," said Edidiong Uwan, secretary of the council. "We will miss her passion and her love for life. She embraced all of us… We are deeply saddened. (She will) always be missed and greatly treasured."

Tekle was born on October 3, 1986. She graduated in 2004 from James Logan High School, located in Union City. During high school, she was a member of the National Forensic League. She entered Sac State in fall 2004, where she was pursuing a career in Criminal Justice, according to a program released by Alpha Kappa Alpha.

Editor's note: The State Hornet did not retrieve full names of those quoted in order to respect Tekle's family and friends at this difficult time. All spoke at a podium during the service.

Nika Megino can be reached at nikamegino@statehornet.com

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