Sister of London nursing student killed in Texas attends graduation ceremony in her honour

The sister of London-born nursing student who was killed in Texas has attended her graduation ceremony in her honour.

Elizabeth Tamilore Odunsi, known to family and friends as Tamilore or Tami, was murdered in the US last month, just days before graduating from her nursing degree. 

23-year-old Tamilore was stabbed 28 times in an alleged disagreement over her roommate’s cat. The roommate, 40-year-old Chester Lamar Grant, has since been charged with murder and remains in custody at Harris County Jail, Texas.

via City of Houston Police Department

Tamilore had been due to graduate from Texas Women’s University just days after she was killed. Instead, her sister Georgina collected her nursing pin on her behalf, accompanied by their two brothers. In a video posted on Instagram, Georgina shared the moment when she accepted the award, supported by applause from Tamilore’s classmates. 

Georgina also shared a clip of herself and her two brothers giving a speech at the ceremony, captioned: “Forever our sister’s keeper.”

via Instagram

Tamilore was an avid TikTok user with over 45,000 followers. Days before her murder, she posted a TikTok sharing her excitement for her graduation and the upcoming summer. 

In a statement, Texas Women’s University said: “We were deeply saddened to learn of the tragic death of Texas Woman’s University student Elizabeth “Tami” Odunsi. 

“Our campus community mourns her loss, and we send our heartfelt condolences to her family and friends.

“Motivated by both love and purpose, Tami was determined to become a source of compassionate care for others, particularly those from underrepresented communities.

Most Read

A deep dive into Carina Mirabile’s many, many attempts at fame before MAFS Australia

The creepy real reason Netflix removed this Black Mirror episode over the weekend

Paul is apparently dating someone after MAFS Australia and erm, you might recognise her

“At just 17, Tami moved alone from London to Houston, bravely adapting to a new country, a new culture, and a new academic system—all just months before the pandemic began. 

“Despite the many challenges she faced, Tami found a home at Texas Woman’s University, where her aspirations aligned with our mission, and where she quickly became an inspiration to all who knew her.”

A GoFundMe set up by her family to cover the costs of her repatriation, burial and funeral has raised over £75,000. In the fundraiser’s description, Georgina describes her sister’s death as “an unimaginable loss at a moment that should have marked the beginning of a bright and promising future.”

Featured image via Instagram