U.S. Army Spc. Demetrius Lamont Void was remembered Friday afternoon as a bright, friendly person whose sense of humor could lift anyone’s spirits, but he was also honored for his selfless service to his country.

The 20-year-old died as the result of an accident in Afghanistan on September 15.

Friends, family and others gathered at South Carolina State University’s Smith-Hammond-Middleton Memorial Center on Friday afternoon for Void’s funeral. Some had lost their own sons and could relate to a mother’s pain. Others were family members who came to remember the “cool little dude” and his energetic passion for life.

“He was just really funny, energetic and smart. He hated to be called smart, but he was,” said Pamela Hall, who was married to Void’s uncle, Tyrone W. Void.

“One year we came down to visit him and couldn’t figure out what to buy for him as a gift. We thought, ‘Well, he likes science and stuff like that,’ so we thought we’d buy him this little science kit to put together. We thought, ‘Oh, that will keep him busy for a while.’ Fifteen minutes later, he had it done. He was just laughing about it like, ‘Did you really think it was going to take me longer than 15 minutes?’” Hall said.

“He was just a great guy, very personable and a really sweet person to know. It’s so tragic to have something like this happen. I just honor his commitment,” Hall said.

Ebony James, a 22-year-old senior elementary education major at S.C. State, came to honor Void’s dedication along with two of her friends.

“We came because he was a member of the Army and he was fighting for our country. He was doing what he felt was necessary to help our American people. I don’t really know him, but I’m sad at the fact that he died from something that he loved doing so much. He’ll be dearly missed by friends, family and colleagues,” James said.

Kathy Johnson said Void was her son Terrell’s first cousin. She also came to pay her respects to the family.

“I know how it feels to lose a son and I came to support the family. I just speak blessings upon them that God will strengthen them each day,” Johnson said. Her stepson, Anthony, drowned in 1998.

Keon Jackson said one of Void’s uncles, the Rev. Keith Boyd, was like a father to him. He, too, took time to honor the fallen soldier and his family.

“I took time off my job to come show my respect not only to the family, but for him being in the armed services out trying to fight for our country,” Jackson said.

T&D Staff Writer Dionne Gleaton can be reached by e-mail at dgleaton@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-533-5534. Discuss this and other stories online at TheTandD.com.

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