Eastern Michigan University students are soaring eagles, and all they do is “fight, fight, fight for ol’ EMU.” Soaring Eagles will fly and the bravest they’ll defy. There is a fight in an Eagle that you cannot deny.
Lorenzo Seaberry III knew what it took to be a soaring Eagle. He “fought, fought, fought” his way to the top of depth chart for the EMU football team during his tenure. He “fought, fought, fought” his way to earning his degree at EMU with a Bachelor of Science in Communications in 2010. He “fought, fought, fought” until he couldn’t fight any more.
Seaberry lost his fight against kidney cancer last month, passing away at 24 on Nov. 24. He said his final goodbyes to his family and loved ones at the University of Michigan Hospital.
Daniel Holtzclaw, a former teammate of Seaberry told Enid (Okla.) News & Eagles he was jolted about the news of Seaberry’s situation.
“I was stunned,” Holtzclaw said. “I just found out he was sick and then heard the news he died. It definitely brought a tear to my eye.”
Seaberry was a walk-on football player for former coach Jeff Genyk and was awarded an athletic scholarship his senior season under current coach Ron English.
“He was one of those guys who was always encouraging his teammates,” Holtzclaw said. “He was always working hard.”
Seaberry, a linebacker and special-teams player, was an overachiever. During his days of being on the football field, he earned a Defensive Big Playmaker Award for the Ball State game, Sept. 8, 2007 and earned three single-game awards during his career at EMU.
“Everyone knew Seaberry,” Holtzclaw said. “He was loud. He had swagger in a good way. He had the most confidence despite his size.”
Holtzclaw said he was 5-foot-8 on a good day.
He was something special. Seaberry was a larger than life character for the EMU football program when times were at their worst. The Eagles ended a 15-year streak of losing seasons this past season, finishing the year at 6-6, something Seaberry never witnessed first-hand.
Senior basketball player Paige Redditt said he was a loving, outgoing, supportive and energetic person.
“He was my bestie,” Redditt said. “I was never down around him. I miss most his energy.”
Seaberry was buried Dec. 1 at the Cleveland Memorial Gardens in Cleveland. He was born on Dec. 29, 1986, in Cleveland to parents Elizabeth P. Dickson and Lorenzo Seaberry II. He is survived by his parents, his sister Q’Rica Monique Seaberry, his brothers: Cedric J. Bass Jr. and Tarik Seaberry along with nieces, grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins and close friends.
He attended Cleveland School of the Arts and went on to graduate from Bedford High School. Seaberry was active and competed in football, track and field and wrestling in high school. He earned player of the week for the All-City football team.
Redditt said Seaberry was one of the first people she got close to at EMU.
“I saw him the night before he passed,” she said. “So, I got to tell him that I love him and I’ll miss him. I told him that I loved him and I was there for him.”
This son, cousin, uncle, brother, grandson, teammate, companion and soaring Eagle was in the process of getting a Master’s degree in Interior Architectural Design at EMU before his sickness got worse. He worked hard for what he wanted and saw success in more ways than one.
Holtzclaw said: “Those guys who walk-on have it tough. Nothing is paid for, and they have to earn everything. He earned it.”
A memorial fund has been established for this Eagle, and donations are welcome. The fund name is Lorenzo
Seaberry III Memorial Fund, and it is with Chase Bank.
