‘He would definitely be proud’: Brothers use basketball to remember slain cousin

Brothers Marquis Carvery and Trayvone Clayton continue to turn tragedy into triumph, 10 years after the unsolved murder of their cousin and biggest supporter, Jumar (Maury) Carvery.

Tuesday would have been Maury Carvery’s thirty-first birthday, a day that is hard for Marquis Carvery and his younger brother Trayvon Clayton.

“Some days I sit in my room and just think about how far I have made it, and I remember the things he used to say to me,” said Carvery.

Clayton and Marquis Carvery were eight and 15 years old when Maury Carvery was killed at age 21. Living only three doors down from him in Uniacke Square, they spent a lot of time together playing basketball and listening to his advice.

Today, they use basketball as a way to honour their cousin.

“He would always tell me to stay in school and stay focused, not to allow the negative things that are going on around you change you,” said Carvery.

On May 3, 2008, around midnight, two Halifax Regional Police officers patrolling Gottingen Street heard gunshots from the area of Sunrise Walk and Olympic Court. They found Maury Carvery, who had been shot multiple times. He later died of his injuries.

Police say the investigation into his death remains active but unsolved.

“The way he grew up was just different,” said Clayton. “The things he was doing I wouldn’t want myself to do, so he was a role model but just in a different way.

“I want to see myself do better and know it would make him happy, even though he is in heaven, I want to make him happy.”

Both brothers played basketball at Citadel High School before going on to Saint Mary’s University. When Marquis Carvery played for Saint Mary’s, he was an Atlantic University Sport first team all-star. He’s been playing professionally, with National Basketball League of Canada’s Moncton Magic, since graduating in 2017.  

Clayton also makes sure his cousin’s influence isn’t forgotten.

“I wear No. 8 not because my older brother wears it, but because of Maury, that was his basketball number,” said Clayton.

Currently Clayton is a rookie point guard with the Saint Mary’s team. He’s studying criminology and plans to go to law school.

“I want to be there to help because where I am from a lot of people are discriminated against,” he said, adding there are not enough African-Nova Scotian lawyers in the province.

When asked how their cousin would feel about them if he was alive today, both brothers smiled.

“He would definitely be proud,” said Carvery.

Anyone with information about the homicide of Maury Carvery can contact Crime Stoppers by calling 1-800-222-8477 or submitting a secure web tip at www.crimestoppers.ns.ca