From interior decorating to party planning to poetry, Bahair Walker was bursting with creative energy and a determination to succeed.
Through his event decorating business, Bgotti Events, Bahair would create visual statements like columns and arches made of colorful balloons, and Mother’s Day baskets with custom wine glasses and chocolate covered strawberries.
Bahair enjoyed coming up with concepts for events, like a butterfly-themed baby shower and a winter wonderland-themed birthday party for a child. He even planned his own 20th birthday event, which had a “20 Shades of Bahair” theme.
“He was different,” Bahair’s mother Derisha Williams said. “Anything he wanted to do, he’d learn it and master it. He loved building stuff, and he didn’t need to read the instructions. He can look at a picture and build it.”
Now, Derisha is hoping to carry on the work that Bahair started. Bahair was fatally shot in the basement of his home in the 5500 block of Belmar Street in West Philadelphia on April 27, 2021. He was 20 years old. Police have identified a person of interest in the case.
Derisha had Bahair on March 4, 2001 when she was 15, and they grew up together. Bahair attended Belmont Charter Middle School and graduated from YouthBuild Philadelphia Charter School. Bahair served as a volunteer at Belmont, helping out in the drama program.
Derisha encouraged her son’s creativity. When he announced that he wanted to start making clothes, she bought him a sewing machine.
And when he began decorating for events, she was equally as supportive. She was working on finding him an event space where he could host his parties and store his equipment.
“Whatever he wanted to do, I was with it,” Derisha said.
Family was everything to Bahair, and he was a responsible big brother to his siblings. He made sure he had their backs.
Bahair was his own person and resisted being placed into any particular category. He didn’t want to be labeled as anything other than Bahair.
“If he loved you, he loved you,” Derisha said. “All he wanted to do was to be happy.”
Her home is filled with reminders of Bahair, from his poetry to artwork. Even the layout of the furniture was Bahair’s creation.
Derisha honors Bahair by living for him and keeping his event decorating business going.
“I needed Bahair. He might have thought he needed me, but I needed him more than anything,” Derisha said. “It’s never going to be the same.”
Resources are available for people and communities that have endured gun violence in Philadelphia. Click here for more information.
