Funeral Held for Former Simeon Football Star

Demarius Reed found slain in an off campus apartment near Eastern Michigan University on Oct. 18

Family and friends held back tears as they carried a large picture of Demarius Reed at his funeral Saturday.

The funeral for the 20-year-old college junior quickly filled the Holy Temple Cathedral in Harvey as hundreds poured into the church.

“The overwhelming show of support just shows what type of guy he was,” said Keith Price, a family friend and former football coach.

On the morning of Oct. 18, Reed was found shot to death in an off campus apartment near Eastern Michigan University.

Police believed Reed, a junior at EMU and a starting wide receiver on the university’s football team, might have been the victim of a robbery.

“This boy was so special,” said Janet Goodwin, Reed’s former pastor. “He embodied life.”

During Saturday’s game against Northern Illinois University, Reed’s EMU teammates wore his number on their helmets.

On Friday, several of his friends and teammates gathered for a visitation to honor and remember the fallen player.

Reed was a standout football player at Simeon Career Academy, but many at Saturday’s funeral said he became a star while playing with a youth football league in Harvey.

DeJavan Stovall played football with reed when they were younger.

“He was a good outstanding person and he was a good role model to his teammates,” Stovall said.

Many said Reed was a leader on and off the field.

“For a young man’s life to be taken-any young man’s life- when you do your best in life and attempt to follow all the rules and something this tragic happens, it’s just sad,” said Price. “It’s hard to find a great lesson to learn in this.”

Contact Us