It didn't take long for Virgil Alexander to find his calling in community service.
When he began working with students at Gundry Elementary this year he set his sights on a career in social work and was planning to pursue a degree in it at Texas Southern University next fall.
Now family and friends are grasping for reasons why the cheerful teen who was busy plotting his future was shot to death Monday night on the city's north side.
"He was living life to the fullest," said his grandmother Cheryl Henderson. "I'm so sorry someone chose to take his life and we don't know why, but they can never take him away from us. He'll always live in our hearts."
Alexander was on his way to a cousin's house when he was killed, family members said.
Flint police said there are no suspects in the 18-year-old's death.
Funeral services were Saturday for Alexander, who had a gift for making people laugh and an outgoing attitude that drew others to him, said Henderson, 59, of Crystal, Minn.
His nickname, "Storm," came from the weather the day he was born, rather than his demeanor, said his mother, April Alexander.
He was her only child.
"He was one to make sure he lifted your spirits," Alexander said. "He was always upbeat and happy. He always let me know he would love me forever."
Family members said he was a conscientious Flint Central Academy student and also was a member of the school's marching band.
After graduating this year, he decided to spend the next year working with the Flint School District's Bridges to the Future program, which facilitates before- and-after-school activities for area students.
"He enjoyed working with the kids and being a role model," April Alexander, 38, of Flint, said. "He was friendly and a jokester, so he could relate to the kids. He treated them with dignity and respect even though they were younger."
The program inspired him to pursue a career in social work, she said.
He also loved to dance and was a member of the 4U2NV and Anonymous dance groups.
"That was his passion," April Alexander said. "He danced wherever he had a crowd and audience."
Though his interests often changed, Alexander said, "whatever he did he put his whole heart in."
Alexander also leaves his father, Michael Brown, grandmother Marilyn Brown, grandparents Virgil and Mary Alexander, five sisters and seven brothers.
Mr. Virgil Duane - Age 18, passed away Monday, December 10, 2007. He was murdered.
When he began working with students at Gundry Elementary this year he set his sights on a career in social work and was planning to pursue a degree in it at Texas Southern University next fall.
Now family and friends are grasping for reasons why the cheerful teen who was busy plotting his future was shot to death Monday night on the city's north side.
"He was living life to the fullest," said his grandmother Cheryl Henderson. "I'm so sorry someone chose to take his life and we don't know why, but they can never take him away from us. He'll always live in our hearts."
Alexander was on his way to a cousin's house when he was killed, family members said.
Flint police said there are no suspects in the 18-year-old's death.
Funeral services were Saturday for Alexander, who had a gift for making people laugh and an outgoing attitude that drew others to him, said Henderson, 59, of Crystal, Minn.
His nickname, "Storm," came from the weather the day he was born, rather than his demeanor, said his mother, April Alexander.
He was her only child.
"He was one to make sure he lifted your spirits," Alexander said. "He was always upbeat and happy. He always let me know he would love me forever."
Family members said he was a conscientious Flint Central Academy student and also was a member of the school's marching band.
After graduating this year, he decided to spend the next year working with the Flint School District's Bridges to the Future program, which facilitates before- and-after-school activities for area students.
"He enjoyed working with the kids and being a role model," April Alexander, 38, of Flint, said. "He was friendly and a jokester, so he could relate to the kids. He treated them with dignity and respect even though they were younger."
The program inspired him to pursue a career in social work, she said.
He also loved to dance and was a member of the 4U2NV and Anonymous dance groups.
"That was his passion," April Alexander said. "He danced wherever he had a crowd and audience."
Though his interests often changed, Alexander said, "whatever he did he put his whole heart in."
Alexander also leaves his father, Michael Brown, grandmother Marilyn Brown, grandparents Virgil and Mary Alexander, five sisters and seven brothers.
Mr. Virgil Duane - Age 18, passed away Monday, December 10, 2007. He was murdered.
It didn't take long for Virgil Alexander to find his calling in community service.
When he began working with students at Gundry Elementary this year he set his sights on a career in social work and was planning to pursue a degree in it at Texas Southern University next fall.
Now family and friends are grasping for reasons why the cheerful teen who was busy plotting his future was shot to death Monday night on the city's north side.
"He was living life to the fullest," said his grandmother Cheryl Henderson. "I'm so sorry someone chose to take his life and we don't know why, but they can never take him away from us. He'll always live in our hearts."
Alexander was on his way to a cousin's house when he was killed, family members said.
Flint police said there are no suspects in the 18-year-old's death.
Funeral services were Saturday for Alexander, who had a gift for making people laugh and an outgoing attitude that drew others to him, said Henderson, 59, of Crystal, Minn.
His nickname, "Storm," came from the weather the day he was born, rather than his demeanor, said his mother, April Alexander.
He was her only child.
"He was one to make sure he lifted your spirits," Alexander said. "He was always upbeat and happy. He always let me know he would love me forever."
Family members said he was a conscientious Flint Central Academy student and also was a member of the school's marching band.
After graduating this year, he decided to spend the next year working with the Flint School District's Bridges to the Future program, which facilitates before- and-after-school activities for area students.
"He enjoyed working with the kids and being a role model," April Alexander, 38, of Flint, said. "He was friendly and a jokester, so he could relate to the kids. He treated them with dignity and respect even though they were younger."
The program inspired him to pursue a career in social work, she said.
He also loved to dance and was a member of the 4U2NV and Anonymous dance groups.
"That was his passion," April Alexander said. "He danced wherever he had a crowd and audience."
Though his interests often changed, Alexander said, "whatever he did he put his whole heart in."
Alexander also leaves his father, Michael Brown, grandmother Marilyn Brown, grandparents Virgil and Mary Alexander, five sisters and seven brothers.
Mr. Virgil Duane - Age 18, passed away Monday, December 10, 2007. He was murdered.
When he began working with students at Gundry Elementary this year he set his sights on a career in social work and was planning to pursue a degree in it at Texas Southern University next fall.
Now family and friends are grasping for reasons why the cheerful teen who was busy plotting his future was shot to death Monday night on the city's north side.
"He was living life to the fullest," said his grandmother Cheryl Henderson. "I'm so sorry someone chose to take his life and we don't know why, but they can never take him away from us. He'll always live in our hearts."
Alexander was on his way to a cousin's house when he was killed, family members said.
Flint police said there are no suspects in the 18-year-old's death.
Funeral services were Saturday for Alexander, who had a gift for making people laugh and an outgoing attitude that drew others to him, said Henderson, 59, of Crystal, Minn.
His nickname, "Storm," came from the weather the day he was born, rather than his demeanor, said his mother, April Alexander.
He was her only child.
"He was one to make sure he lifted your spirits," Alexander said. "He was always upbeat and happy. He always let me know he would love me forever."
Family members said he was a conscientious Flint Central Academy student and also was a member of the school's marching band.
After graduating this year, he decided to spend the next year working with the Flint School District's Bridges to the Future program, which facilitates before- and-after-school activities for area students.
"He enjoyed working with the kids and being a role model," April Alexander, 38, of Flint, said. "He was friendly and a jokester, so he could relate to the kids. He treated them with dignity and respect even though they were younger."
The program inspired him to pursue a career in social work, she said.
He also loved to dance and was a member of the 4U2NV and Anonymous dance groups.
"That was his passion," April Alexander said. "He danced wherever he had a crowd and audience."
Though his interests often changed, Alexander said, "whatever he did he put his whole heart in."
Alexander also leaves his father, Michael Brown, grandmother Marilyn Brown, grandparents Virgil and Mary Alexander, five sisters and seven brothers.
Mr. Virgil Duane - Age 18, passed away Monday, December 10, 2007. He was murdered.
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