Less than a year after brother was killed by drunk driver, Wilson’s Frazier will graduate with AA degree
Candice Frazier had just purchased new patio furniture in early August of last year. She was eager to break it in on Sunday, Aug. 4, when she expected her family to gather together to share a meal and some laughs together, like they did every Sunday.
But just one day before, on Saturday, her oldest son, Caire Cotton, was killed in a motorcycle accident by a drunk driver. He was 24 years old.
“A lot of times, even for me, I’d call (Caire) for advice,” Frazier said. “He always had the right words to say, to lift you up. He didn’t like anyone being sad or down.”
In particular, Caire was a light in the life of his younger sister, Zhania Frazier. Though there were seven years apart, the two were close. Caire would drive Zhania to all of her soccer practices when she was young.
“He was just my big brother,” Frazier said. “He would always take me with him places, always made sure I was taken care of. He was there for me when I needed him. He was just an amazing person, good energy, fun to be around.”
It’s been a trying year for the family. But somehow, in the face of tragedy and unimaginable sadness, Frazier has found a way to persevere. A three-sport athlete at Wilson High School, Frazier will be graduating with her Associate of Arts Degree, a product of spending the past two years in the Running Start program, taking classes at Tacoma Community College.
She’ll be attending Clark Atlanta University in the fall, where she plans to double major in engineering and physics. Despite her brother’s life being cut short last August, Frazier has pushed through, competing in soccer and basketball — she also planned to compete in track this spring, before COVID-19 forced the cancellation of the spring sports season — and staying on track academically.
“I know (Caire) always wanted me to be the best I can be,” Frazier said. “I know no task is too big for me to complete. I can do anything I put my mind to. I know I made him proud. I know I’m an example to siblings, cousins, nephews; me showing them they can fight adversity, be anything they want to be, do anything they want to do.”
The fact that Frazier had the mental strength to keep going is no surprise to anyone who knows her, including Gabrielle Knittle, vice principal at Illahee Middle School in Federal Way. Knittle coached Frazier in youth soccer prior to high school and has kept tabs on her throughout high school.
“Zhania is a very unique individual in terms of her ability,” Knittle said. “She’d get hurt and get right back up. You never saw her shaken at all. She’s always extremely determined.”
Frazier would often approach Knittle at practice, brimming with confidence, and proceed to tell her coach, “My big brother told me we should do this.” And Frazier, to her credit, would follow through.
“She’s a perfectionist,” Knittle said. “She was always the first person to finish, then would run an additional lap. … I think that part was really hard for her, because she was so close to her brother. He always drove her around. When that happened, you could see a piece of her was gone.”
Frazier, 17, has been the rock of her family, in many ways — even at a young age.
“She’s always been the kid I never had to push,” Frazier said. “She’s naturally smart, athletic, talented; she’s a leader. … She’s my angel child.”
Candice Frazier is working on launching a non-profit, called ‘Caire’s House,’ which plans to offer support to help families who have been affected by tragedy.
“We’re not victims of this,” Candice Frazier said. “We have something to share and people to help that have faced tragedy. There’s work to be done — how you take tragedy and turn that into something. I’m watching my daughter do it, and we better get on the ball. As hard as it is to talk about this, we’re not victims. We’re people that can be here to help support and help others through.”
Zhania Frazier won’t get to walk across the stage this spring during graduation, since the coronavirus situation has forced ceremonies online, for the most part. But she knows her brother would be proud.
“I just know he worked hard and strived to be a better him,” Frazier said. “A lot of people looked up to him. He’s left a mark on a lot of people’s lives. He always taught me not to hold onto stuff. It’s OK to let it go. You never know what the person around you is going through. Be quick to forgive. Don’t hold grudges.”
This story was originally published June 7, 2020 at 6:00 AM.
