Demartravion “Trey” Reed: What will happen to Delta State University’s 100th anniversary celebration?
Who is Demartravion “Trey” Reed? What killed him? Delta State University student found dead on campus
Delta State University had prepared for 2025 with anticipation and pride. It was not just another academic year; it marked a century since the institution opened its doors in 1925 as Delta State Teachers College. The centennial was envisioned as a once-in-a-lifetime celebration—an opportunity to honor the pioneers who built the university, showcase its growth into a comprehensive institution, and project hope for the next hundred years.
Yet, on the very day the university was set to launch its 100th-anniversary kickoff, the community was shaken by a devastating loss. The death of Demartravion “Trey” Reed, a student whose life stretched far ahead of him, forced Delta State to cancel its opening festivities. What was supposed to be a day of history, unity, and joy turned into one of grief, reflection, and mourning.
READ ALSO
A Campus in Transition
The centennial program had been mapped out carefully: a commemorative celebration at the Bologna Performing Arts Center, a symbolic time capsule ceremony at Flag Plaza, and a series of events stretching into 2026, including homecoming, Octoberfest, Black History Month, and the grand “Centennial Under the Stars.” Each activity was designed to connect past, present, and future generations of Statesmen and Lady Statesmen.
Instead, September 15, 2025, which was meant to be the kickoff of festivities, became a somber reminder of how fragile life can be. The cancellation notice on the schedule read simply: “Centennial Kickoff events have been canceled.” Behind those words was the weight of loss felt across campus.
Trey Reed: More Than a Name
To fellow students, Trey Reed was more than just another young face in the crowd. Friends recall his energy, his love for community, and his determination to carve out a future at Delta State. His passing struck not only his peers but also alumni and faculty who understood that a centennial is not only about history—it is about people, the lives shaped and stories written on this campus.
The university, while balancing the logistics of a milestone celebration, found itself drawn into an unplanned reckoning: how do you honor a hundred years of progress while acknowledging the pain of the present moment?
Grief in the Midst of Celebration
Centennials are meant to unify. They remind institutions of their roots—Delta State’s establishment in 1924 under Governor Henry L. Whitfield, the opening of its doors in 1925, and the generations of graduates who became educators, leaders, and change-makers. Yet, this centennial began not with jubilation but with shared grief.
Students gathered in small circles across campus lawns, pausing in disbelief. Faculty members, many of whom had prepared speeches for the kickoff, stood instead in solidarity with mourning students. Alumni who had traveled back to Cleveland, Mississippi, spoke of how the tragedy reminded them that the heart of Delta State is not just its buildings or its history but its people.
A Legacy Touched by Loss
The tragedy does not erase the milestones Delta State has achieved in its hundred years: the transformation from a teachers’ college to a thriving university, the creation of cultural hubs like the Bologna Performing Arts Center, the impact of athletics through Parker Field at McCool Stadium, and the continued expansion of academic programs.
But the death of Trey Reed now lives alongside these milestones. It has become part of the centennial story—an unplanned, heartbreaking chapter that underscores the reality that history is not just about achievements but also about the moments of humanity that define a community.
Looking Forward with Resilience
As Delta State moves through its centennial calendar—Octoberfest, homecoming, Veterans Day, Springfest, and the grand finale under the stars—the celebration will carry a dual tone: one of pride for 100 years of legacy and one of remembrance for a student who will not be part of the next century.
University leaders, faculty, and students alike now face the task of balancing joy and grief, ensuring that Trey’s memory is honored even as they project hope for the future. His passing, though tragic, has drawn the campus closer, reminding all that Delta State’s spirit has always been defined not just by its longevity, but by its ability to endure hardship with resilience and compassion.
As the centennial unfolds, the banners and time capsules will tell one story, but the memories of Trey Reed will tell another—a story of a life cut short, yet woven forever into the narrative of Delta State University’s first hundred years.
