FAMU loses a great student, friend in Langford

Friends of Quinton Langford gathered last week for one last tribute to the student, who was shot during FAMU’s homecoming weekend.
Photo by James Foster

By James Foster
Outlook Writer

Still reeling from the shock of his death, friends of Quinton Langford paid homage to the fallen FAMU student one last time with a memorial service on campus.

 
Langford’s roommate, Darryl Darby, will probably feel the void more than any of his other peers. The two had shared many happy times together and Langford was always there when Darby needed a lift.
“There would be days where he would knock on my door and I may not be in a good mood or don’t want to answer it,” Darby said. “He would say ‘I know you’re in there, let’s go somewhere’ and he would try to cheer me up.”

 
Darby especially admired Langford’s free spirit.

 
“He was never afraid to talk to anyone especially girl. We always had a thing called shooting your shot or do something to the fullest because you never would know if a girl wants to talk to you until you try and now I apply that to everything I do.

 
“One thing he taught me is to never take things for granted because if we were to be on bad terms before he died I would feel so much worse about the situation.”

 
Langford, 20, was shot and killed outside a house party during FAMU’s homecoming weekend. His friend, 19-year old Landsey Elisson, was also shot and remains hospitalized.

 
Darby plans to attend Langford’s funeral in his Plant City home town. There also are plans to establish a scholarship in Langford’s memory, with the goal of promoting diversity and underrepresented minorities.

 
Langford was remembered by mourners for having a constant smile.

 
“He was very energetic, very happy when it comes down to personality,” said Christian Jules who was a close friend of Langford’s. “You can say Quinton had a great personality,”

 
Langford attended the school of Architecture and Engineering Technology at FAMU and was working on a Bachelors of Construction Engineering Technology degree. He was president of the Association of General Contractors and a Membership Chair of the National Society of Black Engineers.

 
Director of Student Services Ronald Lumpkin had a few conversations with Langford but they were enough for him to know that he was special.

 
“He was an honor student and he seemed to be bright,” said Lumpkin. “I told him ‘promise me one thing if you enter our school, make sure that you’re going to be the best student here’.” He laughed and said, “‘I don’t have any problem being that’.”
Christian Jules was a classmate of Langford’s and had more interaction with Langford, allowing him to see his personality on a daily basis.

 
“He wasn’t like most people,” she said. “He didn’t judge you by who you were or the color of your skin. He loved everyone and I always had his back if he needed something.

 
“He had plans for the world, in his future, in his career, he had a bright future and he always made the classroom smile and laugh.”