OXFORD, Mich. – Phoebe Arthur was shot with her boyfriend last week during the Oxford High School tragedy.
Like her boyfriend, Arthur was released from the hospital to recover from home. Her family is ecstatic about the recovery.
No tragic event can dim her lights as she has a glowing personality that illuminates any room she walks into friends and family say.
‘She’s just so joyful’
Last week, Local 4′s Rhonda Walker sat down with a close family friend who also grew up in the community. Terésa McQueen has known Phoebe Arthur most of her life, and even taught art in her kindergarten class. Relationships run deep in Oxford. Neighbors, teachers, alumni become almost like family.
McQueen describes the 14-year-old as “just so joyful and so happy it’s infectious.”
Ben is Phoebe’s father. Ben Arthur and McQueen graduated from Oxford High School together. They have been friends for almost 30 years. McQueen doesn’t have any children of her own in school, but she is very connected to her friends’ kids.
She volunteers and attends as many musicals and sporting events as she can.
“We have a nice group of Oxford Alumni friends,” she said.
Those friends are now pulling together to help the Arthur family at this time. According to McQueen, Phoebe Arthur was “shot I believe a couple of times and her boyfriend was shot as well.”
McQueen said the thought of just saying the 14-year-old had been shot, she said “it’s just unthinkable. It’s still hard to know that somebody that you love has been shot and has had to endure something like that. I’m sorry. I don’t know how else to describe it. It’s painful.”
McQueen and her friends are focusing on Phoebe Arthur’s recovery now. She has made incredible progress. She was taken off a ventilator just days ago.
“Obviously she’s still in a lot of pain and has a long road ahead of her, but she is herself. You can still see the smiles and the jokes. You can’t quite see the dimples, but I’m sure they’ll be perking right through,” McQueen said.
McQueen wants everyone to know what a great person Phoebe Arthur is.
“She’s a really bright, vibrant personality that’s just undeniable,” McQueen said. “When she walks into a room you know Phoebe is here. She is the first to run up and give you a hug. She just loves animals. She’s a good sharer and a good listener and she’s got a big heart.”
If you would like to help Arthur and her family, donate here.