Hundreds gather to mourn Courtland Smith

Friends, family members and UNC students leave the memorial service held to honor Courtland Benjamin Smith.

Friends and family remembered Courtland Benjamin Smith as a strong leader, a loyal friend and a passionate kayaker and outdoorsman at a memorial service Wednesday.

The Chapel of the Cross Episcopal Church, where the service took place, was packed to the brim, with people in every pew and many standing in the back.

Those who spoke at the service described Smith as a determined,  driven and compassionate friend.

“To everyone here today, I wish you could have gotten to know him longer, because you all would have been a little better for it,” said junior James Glenn, Smiths’ roommate and fellow fraternity member.

Smith served as president of the UNC chapter of the Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity.

The junior biology major from Houston was shot and killed by police on Sunday.

“My life is, was, and will always be better off having known Courtland. I felt like I knew him my entire life,” said Glenn, who met Smith at UNC. “He always tried his hardest to cheer me up, and he had incredible passion and determination in everything in his life.”

Throughout the service, friends recounted stories of Smith’s passion for life and loyalty to his friends.

“Courtland always had a plan,” said Thomas Ewing, Smith’s childhood friend who attended Camp Mondamin with him since they were 10 years old. “I would call my mom and dad and say, ‘Don’t worry, everything’s okay, Courtland’s with me.’”

Smith’s friends also spoke of his intelligence and drive, notably his desire to attend medical school and become a cardiovascular surgeon.

“When he was 13 years old he talked about wanting to be a doctor and spoke of his dream to go to UNC,” Ewing said.

“We became more than friends. We became brothers. He was the only person I knew I’d trust my life with.”

Glenn reminded Smith’s friends and family that they could honor Smith’s life by living their own lives with honor and dignity.

“We need to remember that Courtland is and will always be a Tar Heel,” Glenn said.

The Loreleis, a female a cappella group at UNC, performed Daniel Gawthrop’s “Sing Me to Heaven,” and the Reverend Tambria E. Lee from Chapel of the Cross gave the sermon. Friends and family returned to the fraternity house for a private reception after the service.

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at Christ Church Cathedral in Houston. In a statement, 30 members of the Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity said they are attending the service.

Smith’s family has asked for contributions to be made to UNC’s College of Arts and Sciences Scholarship Fund or Camp Mondamin’s Frank and Calla Bell Scholarship Foundation.

Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.