The Brothers of Kappa Alpha Psi’s Nu Omega chapter bade farewell to one of their own on Monday in a short, but emotional ceremony honoring the life and love of Jarrod Vaughn Dumes, 22, of Harvey, La.
Dozens of Dume’s friends and fraternity brothers gathered in the President’s Plaza for the ceremony on Feb. 4, 2013 around 12:30 p.m. It was a short but solemn ceremony; many were in tears. Winfred “PJ” Hills, a senior mathematics major, is a former Kappa Alpha Psi president and currently serves as Nu Omega’s Lieutenant Strategus. Hills was among the many who honored Dumes at the ceremony.
“Today, we came together to honor one of brothers. He was a chapter member and a Southeastern student, Jarrod Dumes,” said Hills. “He passed away in a car accident yesterday morning and we wanted to come together to do something short and powerful so that people know that we loved him.”
The mourners gathered in the plaza to sing songs and a prayer for Dumes. His Kappa Alpha Psi brothers tied last thoughts and prayers to red balloons and set them free.
“They signified our last words to him,” said Hills.
According to KATC Lafayette News, Dumes was killed in a car accident on Feb.  3, 2013 around 4:30 a.m. while traveling east on LA Highway 10 in St. Landry Parish. Troopers with Louisiana State Police Troop I determined that Dumes had overcorrected and swerved from the road, striking a tree. Dumes was unrestrained by a seatbelt and was pronounced dead by the St. Landry Parish Coroner. It is unknown at this time if Dumes was under the influence at the time of the accident, though toxicology samples were collected.
A funeral for Dumes will be on Saturday, Feb. 9 at 9:30 a.m. at St. Cletus Catholic Church in Gretna, Louisiana.