Slain Mercer student Jibri Bryan honored at campus vigil

On Wednesday night, the time clock stopped at 34:34 in Hawkins Arena as the crowd fell silent.

The number 34 is significant because it was the jersey number of Jibri Bryan, a member of Mercer University's basketball team who was shot to death the day before in Macon.

Several hundred people gathered at the 9 p.m. event to remember Bryan, whose picture was displayed on the video board along with the words "Together we will #bearstrong."

"We did not come here tonight for speeches," said Craig McMahan, the university's minister. "Only silence is big enough to hold what's in our hearts."

Students, faculty and Mercer basketball fans lit white candles while singing "Amazing Grace."

Though he didn't know the slain graduate student personally, freshman Jay Hinson, 18, attended the vigil with about a dozen of his friends.

"It just felt like the right thing to do because this could have happened to anybody on campus," Hinson said before the vigil started. "I guess it shows that we're closer together than people think we are."

Bryan's teammates were visibly shaken by his death. One player, who was crying, doubled over with grief and was consoled by Coach Bob Hoffman.

Mercer basketball fan Trish Whitley sat in a chair on the edge of the court with her sons, 11-year-old Sam, who is a team ball boy, and 9-year-old Brice.

"It's heartbreaking," Whitley said. "(Bryan) hugged my neck every time he came around the court after a game. He was just always really kind and encouraging to our boys, never down, always positive."

Whitley said Bryan was supportive of his teammates even after he injured his knee.

"You could see that he really loved being out there even when he couldn't play," Whitley said. "It's beautiful to see the community of Mercer Bears come together."

To contact writer Laura Corley, call 744-4334 or follow him on Twitter @Lauraecor.

This story was originally published February 3, 2016 at 10:19 PM with the headline "Slain Mercer student Jibri Bryan honored at campus vigil ."