Gun Violence 258
Quincy White, 25: Creative, fun and playful
QuincyQ White was his mother’s golden child—literally. “Some people called him ‘cinnamonny’ because he had the color of light cinnamon,” his mother, Theresa Madison, said. “I called him my sandy boy because he had the light hair and the light eyes, and his skin looked to me like it was sand.” It just so happens […]
Aidan Seddon, 18: ‘The things he wanted to do, he was doing them’
Aidan Seddon didn’t care much for school, but that changed in his senior year. After struggling with online classes at first, Aidan found his groove, worked hard and graduated with honors from Roman Catholic High School in 2020. Like many members of his class, Aidan was disappointed by the anticlimactic ending. “He felt like he […]
Alan Womack Jr., 28, passionate about fitness, fashion and family
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 […]
Tyrone Armstrong, 36: ‘He left an impact on all of us’
Wherever he was, Tyrone Armstrong always had a Bible with him. Whether it was his pocket-sized Bible he kept in his car or the one he had in his house, he was always reading and annotating it. It didn’t start off that way. Tyrone grew up in a mainly Muslim household, but when he was […]
Clayton ‘Lil Roh’ Ferris, 29, tried to steer neighborhood kids on the right path
Clayton Ferris knew firsthand that it takes a village to raise a child, yet when he encountered an 11-year-old drug dealer in his West Philadelphia neighborhood, he didn’t call for backup. Instead, Clayton counseled the boy that there are other ways to make money, such as washing cars or sweeping the streets — activities that, […]
Jaleel Huggins-Cotton, 21, aspired to be the father he never had
In the summer of 2019, Jaleel Huggins-Cotton laid eyes on his father for the first time since he was six months old. It was Jaleel’s mother’s birthday and, on a whim, Takeya Huggins Cotton Tilghman took her son to the old neighborhood in West Philadelphia to see if the absent side of his family might […]
Diyaan Smith, 16, a gamer known for giving money to the homeless
After having four daughters, Katrina Burrell was overjoyed when she learned in 2004 that her fifth child would be a son. He was born Memorial Day weekend, and she named him Diyaan. He was a quiet, laid-back kid who laughed a lot. He attended William Rowen School followed by the Academy for the Middle Years […]
Writing Heals: A Trauma Storytelling Program for Those Affected by Gun Violence
The Philadelphia Obituary Project is excited to partner with Storiez Trauma Narratives for three free virtual summer storytelling workshops for people impacted by gun violence. This special program, Writing Heals, is funded by the city’s Targeted Community Investment Grant. The program will be led by Dr. Meagan Corrado, a licensed clinical social worker. This program will help […]
Kahlief Myrick, 16, budding clothing designer who loved making people laugh
Growing up in South Philadelphia, Kahlief Myrick started his morning by looking out the window of his house. He loved the outdoors, and he was eager to go to the park or play on the block. “He would also sometimes go to the door, unbeknownst to me,” his mother Brittany Brunson said. “I used to […]
Domonic Billa, 21: A quiet person with a big spirit
When it came to her children and sneakers, Nakisha Billa always stocked up when she found a good deal. After one shopping trip, she and her son Domonic Billa came home with four pairs of sneakers for him thanks to a buy one, get one half off sale. Later that day, one of Domonic’s friends […]
George Codrick, 63, WWII veteran and math whiz known for playing the ponies and clever comebacks
George Codrick never considered himself a gambler. Indeed, it wasn’t gambling if you applied a surefire mathematical formula to betting at the racetrack, honed from years of studying the daily racing form and tracking thoroughbred speeds, track conditions and any number of other variables. George never bet on the famous horses because of the piddling […]
James ‘Jimmy’ McManus, 37: Reunited With First Love Two Months Before His Death
He was the 14-year-old best friend of her little brother. But Rachel Hendricks, then 17, had a feeling about Jimmy McManus. He gelled back his coarse dark hair, wore baggy pants and Vans sneakers, and showed off for her at the skate park. She worked at Walmart in Hatfield and he got a job at […]
Shamir Gilmore, 21, known for his thoughtful gestures
On his 21st birthday, Shamir Gilmore did something unexpected. He gave his mother a gift as a symbol of his gratitude: An artificial purple rose — her favorite color — and said, “Thank you for giving me life.” Almost a year later, Nicole is still amazed at her son’s touching gesture. “There’s not going to […]
Dyewou Scruggs, 20, Social Media Comedian Who Always Made His Presence Known
Chasing laughs during the COVID-19 lockdown, Dyewou Scruggs took life’s ordinary moments and twisted them beyond social conventions. An admirer of comedians Mike Epps, Eddie Murphy and Bernie Mac, Dyewou would cast family members, friends and neighbors in his Instagram skits @wooxbiddy, crafting punchlines, analyzing camera angles and editing wacky footage to entertain his nearly […]
Charles ‘Chuckie’ Maude, 24: ‘He loved those girls’
Charles Maude III was still figuring out what he wanted to do with his life. All he knew was that no matter what, he was going to be the best dad ever. At 17, Charles, or better known as Chuckie, met his girlfriend, Bella Garcia, who at the time already had a three-year-old daughter. The […]
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