Anthony L. Merriett took his work seriously, building a career for himself in construction with a legacy that lives on in storefronts and homes across the city. But he never took himself too seriously—or the aliens he said would be coming any day now.
“He had this thing for aliens,” said his wife, Philon Carter, who spent 30 years by his side. “He’d say aliens were real and before he left this Earth he swore we was going to see them.”
Anthony was just like that, a silly guy who never stopped making jokes. He also was a great man who would give the shirt off his back to anyone who needed it, and he had recently began giving back to the community.
In fact, when he was shot on March 29, 2021, he was working with a film producer on a documentary about a family affected by gun violence. He had been going back to the van to grab a piece of video equipment when someone shot him dead on the 1900 block Page Street in North Philadelphia. He was 55.
Anthony grew up in Strawberry Mansion, first attending school at St. Elizabeth. Friends lovingly called him Apple because he had a big head. “That turned into Applehead and the name stuck with him,” Philon said as a litter of toy doodle puppies yipped in the background. “But he was the apple of my eye.”
He would go on to get his high school diploma, and along the way the family moved to Tioga, where it seemed like everyone knew him. People would constantly stop him on the street to say hi, ask for advice or seek his help working on a project.
“Anthony was a man of many trades. If your car was broken, he would fix it without asking for money in exchange,” said Philon, who had two children and a step-child with him. Now altogether there are nine children, grandchildren and even great children.
For many years, he also worked as a union laborer for Local 332, doing concrete work such as fixing steps. He also did a lot of work inside, like installing electronics and fireplaces. And he never stopped moving. Not one to sit by and watch TV all day, Anthony was a restless soul who enjoyed using his mind. Chess was one of his favorite pastimes. “He just had so many talents. He did it all.”
But the thing that made him the most happy was being around his family. He was so close with his mother that not a day would go by that he didn’t call her. Always looking after everyone, others came first, and then it was him.
“Even for his birthday,” Philon said. “He never wanted to celebrate himself, and he’d say, it’s just another day. So now I celebrate him as much as I can.”
Anthony was proud that he was able to make something of his life after getting in some trouble early on. Making a career doing construction and later as a videographer yielded so many stories for his loved ones to leave behind.
“Every day I walk or drive past stores and homes he helped build, so I can ride by and remember him. I’m grateful for that, Philon said.
One day after Anthony’s funeral, Philon went to Page Street, where a relative had put out candle and T-shirt to mark the location where he was lost. By the time Philon arrived, the memorial was overflowing with flowers and gifts. So many people came to visit that an elderly neighbor came up to Philon and said, “I have to give you a hug. I don’t know you or your husband but he had to be an awesome man with all these people to come by.” He’d never seen such a thing.
“For complete stranger to feel that way, I’m very grateful,” Philon said. “And my son was with me, Anthony’s only son. He was able to hear that as well, that his dad was a great man out there and was loved by so many people.”
A reward of up to $20,000 if available to anyone that comes forward with information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the persons responsible for Jasmine’s murder. Anonymous calls can be submitted by calling the Citizens Crime Commission at 215-546-TIPS.
Resources are available for people and communities that have endured gun violence in Philadelphia. Click here for more information.
