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CHAPEL HILL -- With shovels in hand, members of the Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity will break ground Saturday on a Habitat for Humanity house to be named for their former president, Courtland Benjamin Smith, who died in August.
"We see this project as an important opportunity for the DKE House to contribute meaningfully to the community and give the chapter, parents, and alumni a constructive way to cope with the enormous loss we suffered after Courtland's death last August," said the fraternity's incoming president, Davis Willingham, in a written statement. "His big heart and vibrant personality touched us and we feel this is a significant effort to honor his life, selfless nature and affinity for service."
Smith, 21, was shot to death Aug. 23 by an Archdale police officer who stopped Smith on Interstate 85 after Smith called 911 saying that he was drinking, driving fast and had a gun. He asked the dispatcher to send a law enforcement officer to "drive with him."
In less than 40 seconds after stopping Smith, the police officer shot and killed him. A report from the investigation said Smith moved aggressively toward the officers, kept one hand behind his back and then suddenly drew his hand around with a black object in it, causing the officers to believe he had a gun in his hand.
No gun was found. Instead, officers found a black cell phone near his body.
While much has been said about the circumstances of Smith's death, his friends and fraternity brothers remembered him during a memorial as a young man who loved the outdoors, who was a true friend and a leader who had dreams of becoming a neurosurgeon.
Shortly after Smith died, the members of the fraternity were trying to think of ways to make something positive out of the situation, said Chris Rice, alumni adviser for DKE.
"As they were planning the memorial in Chapel Hill, this was something else that they came up with," Rice said.
Volunteers associated with DKE, and local Bank of America employees will build the house on weekends beginning Jan. 30 and lasting 16 weekends. Bank of America has contributed $25,000, and more than $60,000 of the $75,000 necessary to build the house has already been raised.
The house is being built for Lion and Zar Ree Wei, who work on the UNC housekeeping staff, and their six children. It will be on Gracie Circle near Rogers Road in Chapel Hill.
Smith's parents, Pharr and Susan Smith of Houston, Texas, will speak at the groundbreaking ceremony, which begins at 11 a.m.
