Friends recall 'Alvie' as full of good spirit

Dozens of students shared tears and laughter Sunday as they exchanged stories and memories about Alvin Henry Jr.\nHenry was an Eigenmann Hall resident assistant and senior who was killed in a May 20 car accident on I-65 just south of Crown Point, Ind. \nGathering in the Grand Hall of the Neal-Marshall Black Cultural Center, the Black Student Union hosted the memorial service for the popular and involved student and announced the creation of a scholarship fund in his honor. \nBefore the service began, pictures of Henry were projected 15 feet high on a screen in the Grand Hall as gospel music played. In every photo, Henry, who friends called "Alvie" or "A.J.," was shown smiling.\n"Alvin was the type of person who made you smile every time you saw him," said senior D'Anna Wade, president of the Black Student Union. "He was a good-spirited person. He was always full of joy and happiness."\nHenry was active in campus life as a resident assistant in Eigenmann Hall, member of the executive board of the BSU and contributor to the Indiana Daily Student.\nHe graduated from Wirt High School in Gary in 2003 and came to IU to study political science with hopes of going to law school and eventually entering politics.\n"A lot of people's greatest fear is going outside their comfort zone," said BSU treasurer and junior Yetunde Okunade before reading one of Henry's favorite poems, "My Deepest Fear" by Nelson Mandela. "But a lot of people here are blessed with a lot of skills, so don't be afraid to go out and try new things like Alvin did."\nThe BSU hopes to raise $5,000 this year and $1,000 every year after for the Alvin Henry Jr. Memorial Scholarship Fund. The scholarship will be given annually to two members of the group who share Henry's ideals.\nThose who knew Henry well dedicated poems and songs to him at Sunday's memorial service. Several people told stories of how Henry touched their lives.\n"I only met Alvin one time," said D'Anna Wade's mother Deborah, who spoke at the service as an evangelist. "But he made a lasting impression on me. Every time I talked to D'Anna, I would ask her how Alvin was doing."\nDeborah Wade told the crowd that Henry should be remembered for the choices he made in his life to help those around him.\n"Scripture tells us that we all have choices," she said. "Our choices don't just affect us but others as well. And because we were all impacted by the positive choices Alvin made, I haven't heard one bad thing about him."\nThis week the BSU will sell raffle tickets at several events on campus for a 23-inch TV to raise money for the scholarship fund. For more information on how to donate to the fund, e-mail blbsu@exchange.indiana.edu.