Obituaries 316
Lavaun ‘Veezy’ Steward, 32, loved renovating houses and spending time with family
Hardly a day goes by when Tanya Steward doesn’t pick up her cell phone and listen to the message her younger brother Lavaun left for her on her 37th birthday in September 2017. “He’s going, ‘Happy birthday homieeeee,’ you know, singing me the whole ‘Happy Birthday’ song and then he says, ‘This is your brother […]
Shannon ‘Boogie’ Blassengale, 27, a fun-loving restaurant manager and freestyle rapper
If ever you were trying to find Shannon “Boogie” Blassengale, chances were he was at one of three places, said his mother, Tiffany Blassengale: Working at a Sonic restaurant in Philadelphia, where he was manager and known as the city’s “fastest Sonic sandwich maker”; at playgrounds in his Port Richmond neighborhood either playing basketball or […]
Charles Johnson, 18, compassionate soon-to-be-father pursuing a degree in engineering
Charles Johnson walked into his parents’ bedroom in the summer of 2007 to express grief over a friend who was just killed in their Southwest Philadelphia neighborhood. That friend was one of nine neighborhood kids Charles and his brother knew who were killed that year. At that moment, his mother knew the family needed to […]
Dyshon Garner, 25, quiet presence known for his signature gap tooth
If you were in the same room as Dyshon Garner, you might not have even noticed. He had a quiet presence in crowds, but blossomed with a different persona when he was making music or around his closest friends. “He was quiet and he would be observing everybody,” Sharon Smith, Dyshon’s mother, said. “When he […]
Rafael Massa, 46, boxer training to be a nurse assistant who loved his daughter
Rafael Massa never wanted to stop learning. At 46 years old, he was in school at Brightwood Career Institute to become a nursing assistant. At different stages of his life, he pursued boilermaking, asphalt, general education and now medical studies. “He was always eager just to learn the next thing,” Lisa Howell, Rafael’s ex-wife, said. […]
Brandyn Beard, 39, a good friend to many, adored his English bulldog
Brandyn Beard was a bubbly, outgoing person who doted on his English bulldog, Holly. “He treated that dog better than he treated himself,” his sister, Tyra Washington, said. “Everyone who knows Brandyn knows Holly was his baby girl. He threw parties for her, got her doggie cupcakes and dressed her in doggie clothes.” Brandyn was […]
Lamar Robinson, 19, honor student, hard worker saving money for college
Lamar Robinson was always a hard worker. He graduated from Strawberry Mansion High School with honors, and to raise the money he needed to continue his education, he worked as much as he possibly could. “He wanted to go to college, but he didn’t want to be a burden on me,” Wanda Robinson, Lamar’s grandmother, […]
Michael Cousette, 27, looked forward to raising his son with the love of his life
The love story of Michael Cousette and Naadirah Fate is not a typical one. They first set eyes on each other during a visit at the prison where Michael was incarcerated. Naadirah, a 29-year-old hairstylist from North Philadelphia, was friends with Michael’s sister, and she had come along with her to the prison to keep […]
Hakim Rashik Sinkler, 27, loving personality paired with ‘a smile that would melt anyone’s heart’
Hakim Sinkler would do anything for those he loved. If you were having a hard time, he would ask, “what can I do for you?” at the drop of a dime. “The fact that you could call him at 5 o’clock in the morning,” Anjennette Caldwell, Hakim’s former girlfriend, said. “It doesn’t matter how late […]
Nacear Gredic, 20, loved dancing on roller skates and listening to oldies
It wasn’t unusual to find Nacear Gredic dancing on roller skates. The 20-year-old was known for his playful energy and could never resist a dance or a twirl on his skates. “He couldn’t get serious. For nothing in the world, I have never seen him serious about anything,” Johndell Gredic, Nacear’s mother, said. “He played […]
Nasir Livingston, 17, enjoyed riding bikes and playing sports
When Nasir Livingston was about 10 years old, his world fell apart when his mother died. “It crushed him,” said Tyrique Glasgow, who lived near Nasir in Grays Ferry. “That’s where all his guidance was, and it was taken.” Nasir had some run-ins with the law and anger management issues, but he was a good […]
Daymond ‘Cash’ Garner, 29, aspiring chef who pulled through tough times
Even when Daymond Garner cooked up something as simple as a cheesesteak, he never kept it basic. He’d go through the fridge and cabinets and toss in everything but the kitchen sink. He probably would have put that in, too, if it wasn’t bolted down, said his cousin, Davida Garner. “It was like, everything he […]
Kristian Hamilton-Arthur, 28, Children’s Hospital worker with dreams of making it big in real estate
Kristian Hamilton-Arthur had big dreams. And his mother said her son had the drive to be successful. “He wanted to be a millionaire,” Crystal Arthur said. “His thing was he didn’t want to work for anybody. He wanted to be his own boss. He was determined.” Kristian was born July 21, 1988 in Philadelphia. He […]
Alex Rojas-Garcia, 34, Temple student, fisherman, award-winning poet
Alejandro “Alex” Rojas-Garcia and his sister had a special bond. They were seven years apart in age, and when they were younger, they’d play silly games together. “We’d jump from couch to couch and pretend our dog was a shark,” 30-year-old Aleida Silva Garcia said with a laugh. She believed everything her brother said, including […]
Erica McClellan, 17, feisty teenager with a raspy voice
May 11, 2018 wouldn’t just have been Erica McClellan’s 18th birthday, but also her senior prom. “When school went back in session this year, and she got her senior itinerary, the first thing she texted me was, ‘Mom, my senior prom is on my 18th birthday. I’m gonna save all my money, because I want […]
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