At 6 feet, 4 inches, Alan Womack Jr. stood out. He loved fashion and he made frequent trips to the King of Prussia Mall, which wasn’t far from his home.
Alan was “very intentional” about living in King of Prussia in order to stay safe from the gun violence plaguing North Philadelphia, where he grew up. It wasn’t the first time he chose to live elsewhere. Alan had attended the University of Maine, 10 miles from the Canadian border.
“He just wanted to do something different,” his mother Latrice Felix said. “He wasn’t a follower. He created his own lane.”
Alan was into physical fitness, working out and eating healthy. He trained Latrice and helped her get into shape, even though his tough love sometimes hurt her feelings. He just wanted the best for everyone.
He excelled in a variety of sports, including track, football and baseball, but basketball had captured his heart. He played basketball for the University of Maine, then transferred to Fisher College in Boston, where he played for the Falcons and majored in business administration.
Staying fit was a priority to Alan, and he was a regular at LA Fitness in Upper Merion Township. On the night of Friday, Feb. 28, 2020, Alan joined a pickup basketball game at LA Fitness in Upper Merion Township, which was practically his second home. A dispute on the basketball court resulted in Alan’s death: He was shot once in the chest in the parking lot of the gym.
“He loved basketball, and he died because of it,” Latrice said.
Alan was born Sept. 24, 1991 to Latrice and Alan Womack Sr. He had a 34-year-old sister and a 21-year-old brother, and the family lived in North Philly as well as Mount Airy when Alan was a child.
Alan was funny and outgoing, and he did well in school. He was able to retain information without needing to study, Latrice said, and he graduated with honors from Math, Civics and Sciences Charter High School in 2010.
After spending his first year at the University of Maine, Alan transferred to Fisher College in Boston to be closer to home. It also made it easier for Latrice to attend Alan’s games.
With a few credits left to go, Alan returned home to be there for his family when his sister became ill. He found work helping adjudicated children, explaining that he could have been in that situation himself if it weren’t for the love and consistency of his family.
Latrice and Alan had a special bond, FaceTiming numerous times a day. She called Alan her “Chocolate Drop” and he called her “Dukes.” His catchphrase was, “Dukes, you good?”
Alan had a loud, booming voice. He spoke so loudly that when he was little Latrice thought he might be hearing impaired, but he just wanted to be heard.
It was important to Alan that Latrice and the rest of his family knew how much he loved them.
“If he cared about you he would go above and beyond to make you feel that love,” Latrice said. “He’d be so excited to give me my birthday gifts that he would give them to me a week early.”
Travel was one of Alan’s joys. He wasn’t a big drinker—his drink of choice was water— but he would allow himself a pina colada or strawberry daiquiri while on vacation.
Alan liked to look good and smell good. He enjoyed putting outfits together, and his favorite cologne was Baccarat. He also treated himself to massages, manicures, pedicures and weekly barbershop visits.
Not long before his death, Alan was hit by a Greyhound bus while driving in Center City, which made him unable to work. He was in the process of getting his strength back and focusing on his health.
Alan dreamed of being married and having children. He also wanted to become an entrepreneur and get into the real estate business.
In a way, Latrice is living out Alan’s dream. She is working on opening a “grief cafe” where people who have lost loved ones to violence can seek support.
“I want to normalize counseling. I want to take that stigma away,” Latrice said. “When you’re dealing with this type of journey, you need a lot of support. So I want to create a space where they can be loved and encouraged to go from hopeless to happy. It’s not easy, but it’s attainable.”
Latrice described a moment shortly after Alan’s death that has a lot of significance to her. She had pleaded with God to let her know if Alan transitioned well, and one day when she could not get out of bed, a loud bird, which turned out to be a cardinal, started making noise at her window.
She researched it and learned that cardinals can appear to loved ones of the deceased who are struggling, and they signify hope, love, personal strength, and endurance.
“The cardinal was loud, and Alan was loud,” Latrice said. “The cardinal was vibrant, and so was Alan. The cardinal was unforgettable, just like Alan.”
Once Latrice received confirmation that Alan was okay, she began turning her attention toward helping others through their own grief journeys. Cardinals now have special meaning to her.
This past weekend, Alan’s loved ones gathered at an Airbnb in Montgomery County to celebrate what would have been his 30th birthday. Cardinals were sprinkled through the decor, appearing on the cupcake table and on keepsake drink coasters, symbolizing Alan’s presence.
Alan is laid to rest at Ivy Hill Cemetery.
Resources are available for people and communities that have endured gun violence in Philadelphia. Click here for more information.
