Lansing residents gather at Capitol to love, cherish Wynter Cole-Smith, 2
LANSING — They gathered on the Capitol lawn Saturday evening, tying purple, pink and silver balloons around the base of a tall pine tree and sending prayers and love to 2-year-old Wynter Cole-Smith and her grieving family.
A vigil for the Lansing child who went missing Sunday from a BeauJardin Drive residence and was found dead in Detroit on Wednesday drew about 100 people wanting to express their sorrow even if they never met Wynter
Taking place around the base of the adorned pine tree, the vigil began and ended with a moment of silence. In between, there was prayer, song and words spoken - all in the name of letting Wynter and her family know they were cared for.
"God, we thank you so much for this day. We ask that you will continue to just shed your love all over this whole family," said One Love Global community organizer Shanell Henry, leading those gathered in prayer. "Thank you for this community of love today that has rallied around to support as we mourn and grieve the beautiful baby Wynter.
"Even though Wynter’s life was brief, she is in your hands, God. Thank you. We ask that you will comfort her mother. Give her strength. Hold her tight."
The vigil was the third in three days. The first two happened in Detroit and also honored Wynter's brief life and mourned her tragic death. Rashad Trice, the man accused of kidnapping and killing Wynter after attacking her mother, has been charged with 18 crimes across three jurisdictions, the latest charges coming in federal court at the request of the FBI.
FBI agents believe Wynter was strangled with a phone charger cord, according to the federal complaint against Trice. The final report on the cause of death is pending with a medical examiner.
On Saturday, Henry and the organizer of the vigil said they were unaware of Wynter's family being in attendance. But that didn't hinder those gathered from offering words of comfort.
"Lansing is strong," Lansing Mayor Andy Schor said. "When tragedy strikes, we come together. That's why we're all here today. We thought this is the important place to be to show unity of our city. This breaks my heart. I know that we did all we could - our police, all our volunteers. We know that tragedy will happen. That's life. We have to come together. We have to do our best to stay strong."
Corinthia Conner said she hasn't been able to sleep, rest or eat since she heard about Wynter's disappearance, even though she never met her.
"Think if it was somebody in our family," the Lansing resident said. "How would we feel? We have to support that family. I just hate what happened. Love, y'all."
Joe Parker, also of Lansing, was one of the last to tie balloons around the pine tree.
"It's a baby, man," he said. "What happened, that was wrong. My heart goes out because I've got kids, grandkids, myself."
Mackenzie Winton organized the vigil after learning Wynter's body was found in Detroit. Learning of the child's disappearance had compelled her to search for Wynter along Interstate 96, between Okemos and Williamston. She also searched for the child in the Detroit area.
She has cried knowing the child was found but not alive.
"I am a mom of three - a 5-, 4- and a 1-year-old," she said. "When it happened, I just had to think quick and think of any way I can help this family. I needed to try to find her."
Winton organized the vigil as a way to remember Wynter and bring the community together. She said she was pleased with how the vigil went.
Contact Susan Vela at svela@lsj.com or 248-873-7044.
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Lansing residents gather at Capitol to love, cherish Wynter Cole-Smith, 2
