Gunfire outside a Flint restaurant early Sunday morning tragically ended the young life of Jamie Lynn Graves.
The 29-year-old Oxford resident was exiting the parking lot of Angelo’s Coney Island restaurant (1816 Davison Road) in a vehicle with a friend and others around 2:30 a.m. when several gunshots rang out and struck her.
Graves, who was driving, was pronounced dead at the scene. Flint Police are investigating the fatal shooting.
‘I can tell you no one’s been arrested so far,? said Lt. Alvern Lock, of the Flint Police Department.
‘I don’t think (the shooting) was random,? Lock said adding, ‘I don’t think she was the target.?
When asked if the target was someone else in the vehicle, Lock replied, ‘Yeah, I believe that to be true.?
A 1995 Oxford High School grad who had just attended her 10-year class reunion Saturday, Graves was described by her mother Linda Graves as a ‘social butterfly.?
‘She loved everybody,? Linda said. ‘She always had a smile on her face. Every picture I’ve got, she’s smiling.?
‘Very trusting. Very, very friendly.?
Graves recently graduated from Baker College with a bachelor’s degree in marketing.
‘She wanted to work for one of the Big Three making commercials,? Linda said. ‘That was her dream.?
Krystal (Barnowsky) Rochon, an ‘inseparable? friend since their elementary school days at Daniel Axford and fellow 1995 OHS graduate, described Graves as someone who was always willing to help others or lend a hand whether it was a friend or a complete stranger.
‘She wouldn’t turn anybody who needed help away. If she saw someone broke down on the side of the road, she’d stop. No matter what. That’s just the way Jamie was.?
‘She was very dependable. Always there when you needed her,? Rochon said. ‘I’m gonna miss her.?
Rochon characterized Graves as an ‘energetic? person, someone ‘always willing to try new things.?
Full of life, Graves loved scrap-booking with mom, watching NASCAR, camping and spending time with nephews, Cole and Devon, and her friend Rochon’s kids.
‘She was a terrific aunt to her nephews. She loved kids,? Linda said.
‘We were always at the beach with the kids. Always doing something with the kids,? Rochon said.
A music lover, Graves was a member of the Oxfordaires and Choralaires (singing groups) in high school.
Retired OHS teacher and counselor Lew Wilson, who directed both groups, remembered Graves as a ‘bubbly? and ‘positive? student who was always helpful.
A cheerleader in high school and basketball and volleyball player in middle school, Rochon said Graves ‘loved sports period.?
Graves is survived by her parents James and Linda, of Oxford; brothers James ‘Richie? and Jason; grandparents Robert and Joan Singleton; and nephews Cole and Devon.
A funeral service will be held 11 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 15 at Modetz Funeral Home 100 E. Silverbell in Orion Township. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 2 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 14.
Interment will be at the Christian Memorial Cemetery. Memorials to the family are suggested.