Family, friends remember Arielle Anderson and Brian Fraser

GROSSE POINTES — Sometimes, there are no words.

At church services across the Grosse Pointes last week, parents and students exchanged often silent hugs as they mourned the losses of two of their own: Brian Fraser, 20, of Grosse Pointe Park, a 2021 graduate of Grosse Pointe South High School, and Arielle Anderson, 19, of Harper Woods, a 2021 graduate of Grosse Pointe North High School. Fraser and Anderson, who were both students at Michigan State University, were killed in a mass shooting on the campus Feb. 13.

They were remembered as bright and beloved individuals whose promising lives ended far too soon. Fraser was an MSU sophomore studying business, and he was president of his fraternity, Phi Delta Theta. Anderson had already achieved junior status — she hoped to graduate early — and she planned on becoming a surgeon.

At a candlelight vigil for Anderson Feb. 18 at First English Evangelical Lutheran Church in Grosse Pointe Woods, the Rev. Don Robinson Sr., pastor of Greater Missionary Baptist Church in Detroit, remembered meeting Anderson, who sometimes attended services there.

“Arielle — her smile just lit up a room,” Robinson said. “She had one of those smiles that made you smile. … She was a beautiful soul, and she brought so much joy to people.”

A crowd of mourners that included friends, family and fellow students easily exceeded First English’s capacity of about 400; the Rev. Sean Motley, the pastor, said he estimated attendance for the vigil to be about 550 to 600, with attendees filling the hallways as well as the sanctuary.

Tears streamed down Periyanna Moore’s face as the 22-year-old remembered Anderson, her cousin. Moore said her heart “was shattered” by Anderson’s death.

“She’s very loved, very, very loved,” Moore said.

Anderson’s aunt, Kim Spivey, said her niece brightened the lives of everyone around her, including strangers.

“She brought a light to everybody she met,” Spivey said.

Dozens of mourners were still on hand for a balloon launch in Anderson’s memory outside First English. Attendees were asked to turn on the flashlights on their phones to illuminate the balloons as they drifted into the heavens.

St. Paul on the Lake Catholic Church in Grosse Pointe Farms — the parish of the Fraser family — held a prayer vigil for Fraser Feb. 15 that also honored the memories of Anderson and Alexandria Verner, the third victim killed in the shooting, from Clawson.

On Feb. 16, Grosse Pointe United Methodist Church in Grosse Pointe Farms held a candlelight vigil for the victims, and on the same night, Grosse Pointe Memorial Church in the Farms conducted a prayer service.

At the St. Paul prayer vigil, students were asked to step forward and light candles. A long line of high school and college students solemnly stepped forward — many in MSU clothing, and a number of them in Phi Delta Theta hoodies. When they were done, more than 100 candles glowed brightly in front of the altar.

The Rev. Jim Bilot, the pastor at St. Paul, led the prayer vigil. The church far exceeded its seating capacity of 520, with people lined up along the walls and spilling out the back; some estimates put the crowd at around 700. Bilot encouraged attendees to pray for the families and loved ones lost in the shooting, saying prayer “is the most important thing” they could do for those grieving these losses.

Grosse Pointe Memorial Church also experienced an overflow crowd, with about 425 people filling the standing-room-only sanctuary. The Rev. Jeff Lincicome, the pastor and head of staff, said that as the parent of an MSU student, Feb. 13 was “my worst nightmare.” His daughter told him she barricaded herself in her dorm room after she returned from an evening chemistry class to news that a shooter was terrorizing the campus. As was the case at St. Paul, the church was filled with students, many of whom knew one or more of the victims.

The Grosse Pointe Memorial service was also available to watch online on YouTube. At press time, it had more than 400 views.

On the St. Paul website, Bilot remembered Fraser, who had attended St. Paul on the Lake Catholic School.

“He was a college student, studying and at work when his life ended,” Bilot wrote. “He was a beautiful young man. He was a light with his constant smile and good nature. He loved St. Paul School and his time learning and making friends. He was active in Youth Ministry while in high school before heading off to MSU. He is the beloved son of Sean and Mia, and loving brother to Micaela.”

On its Twitter page, the Grosse Pointe South Blue Devil Swim & Dive Team offered thoughts and prayers to the Fraser family as they remembered their former teammate.

“Brian had an infectious smile and sense of humor that could light up the pool deck and bring laughter to the entire team,” they posted.

Fraser was also a lifeguard at the Country Club of Detroit in Grosse Pointe Farms. This summer would have marked his sixth year in that position.

Fraser’s fraternity brothers paid tribute to him as well. They issued a statement that read: “Brian was our leader, and we loved him. He cared deeply about his Phi Delt brothers, his family, Michigan State University and Phi Delta Theta. We will greatly miss Brian and mourn his death deeply as our chapter supports each other during this difficult time.”

Although his family wasn’t granting interviews, they remembered Fraser in his obituary, writing: “Brian lived his life full of love. He was compassionate, caring and well rounded. Brian enjoyed laughing and having fun with family and friends. He was part of a large extended family and loved to be around everyone, whether it was at holiday celebrations, casual gatherings or vacations. Brian was a wonderful son and brother. He had many friends and cherished time spent with them. Brian will not only be remembered for his infectious smile and beautiful blue eyes, but also for enjoying his life in the way all young people should. Brian embraced life and had so much to offer. He will be sorely missed by all those he touched.”

Fraser’s parents and his fraternity established a scholarship in his name, the Brian Fraser Presidential Memorial Scholarship, which organizers said would help future Michigan Beta presidents cover their education costs. At press time, the scholarship had received more than $103,000 worth of donations — well above the initial goal of $75,000 — from more than 1,200 donors.

Fraser’s funeral was held Feb. 18 at St. Paul on the Lake. Anderson’s funeral was slated at press time to take place Feb. 21 at Zion Hope Baptist Church in Detroit.