Friends share memories of Ty Laporte at memorial service Monday. (Photo by: Cameron Brooks)
Several hundred people attended a celebration of student-athlete Ty Laporte’s life Monday in the Pavilion including athletes from multiple teams, students, school faculty and the Mississippi State volleyball team. The service opened with a three-song tribute by the UM Gospel Choir followed by a reading of Laporte’s favorite scriptures by former Ole Miss basketball player and coach, Peggie Gillom-Granderson.
Athletics Director Ross Bjork, Volleyball Head Coach Steven McRoberts and Laporte’s teammates all spoke to Laporte’s memory. McRoberts wrote a poem about Laporte which he recited during his tribute which can be found at thedmonline.com. The service ended with a video with highlights from Laporte’s track and volleyball careers at Ole Miss.
“This has reminded me of past Rebels that we’ve lost,” Bjork said. “One of Chucky Mullins’ teammates said that anyone who crossed his path never left the same. Anyone who crossed Ty’s path will never leave the same.”
QUOTES
“”Her name is a symbol for what we most value in ourselves: faith, passion, fun, hope, humility, kindness. She left us too soon – she was a legacy,” Bjork said.
“She ran toward the battle, she ran toward life. She was a fighter. The quintessential rebel,” Bjork said.
“Ty was complicated- she was a lot of things to a lot of different people,” Volleyball Head Coach Steven McRoberts said.
“The stories were the ones where the lights were off. Ty was real. She was honest,” Volleyball Head Coach Steven McRoberts said.
“She had a knack for knowing people better than they did. She was herself 100% of the time and we loved you for it,” volleyball teammate Sophomore Taylor Alexander said.
“When you are next to someone that determined in life it is infectious,” volleyball teammate Junior Melanie Crow said.
“This was her family. She supported us. She protected us. She saw what people could really be and she pushed people to it. When someone believes in you that much you have to start believing in yourself,” volleyball teammate Junior Melanie Crow said.
Poem by Coach McRoberts:
“God needed a middle for his heavenly team,
And when he saw Ty his eyes, they did gleam.
He said she was perfect as she jumped through the air,
She hits it so hard and just look at that hair.
Her big bright smile will light up God’s gym,
And if he ever needs coaching advice she’ll be happy to tell him.
With her headphones on we know she’ll be the best singer,
But she’ll be late for most practices as she’s taping her fingers.
There’s a rumor that her words at God’s first heavenly team meeting,
were hey this is cool but when are we eating?
we will miss you forever and know you are loved,
Until we meet again Ty – you’re our angel looking down from above.”
