Gallery: Hundreds gather to honor life of Dean Lorraine Branham

Hundreds gathered at Hendricks Chapel on Wednesday to honor the life of Dean Lorraine Branham. Kai Nguyen | Staff Photographer

Hendricks Chapel Dean Brian Konkol was the first to speak at the vigil. Kai Nguyen | Staff Photographer

Mel Williams, husband of Lorraine Branham, acknowledged the crowd in Hendricks Chapel. Kai Nguyen | Staff Photographer

Amy Falkner, acting dean of Newhouse, spoke fondly of her relationship with Branham. Kai Nguyen | Staff Photographer

Kelsey Davis, a senior television, radio and film student, paid tribute to the dean in her speech. Kai Nguyen | Staff Photographer

Dean Brian Konkol and Kelsey Davis embrace. Kai Nguyen | Staff Photographer

Russell Ladson is Dean Branham's nephew. To him, she was not Dean Branham, she was just Aunt Lo. "She was the first model of success that I know," Ladson said. Kai Nguyen | Staff Photographer

Lorraine Branham was dean of Newhouse for more than a decade. Prior to her time at SU, she was the dean of the School of Journalism at the University of Texas at Austin. Kai Nguyen | Staff Photographer

Orange ribbons were tied around trees in front of Newhouse 3, a symbol of one of Branham's favorite colors. Kai Nguyen | Staff Photographer

A person ties an orange ribbon to a tree outside of the S.I. Newhouse School of Communications. Kai Nguyen | Staff Photographer

Russell Ladson embraces another person. Kai Nguyen | Staff Photographer

Hundreds of students, staff and faculty walked from Hendricks Chapel to the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications after the vigil in Hendricks Chapel. Kai Nguyen | Staff Photographer