Obituaries 316
Khyrie Isaac, 18, a ‘beast’ on the football field looking to start a clothing brand
Off the football field, Khyrie Isaac, could be silly and lighthearted once you got to know him, but put a helmet on him and he was a force to be reckoned with. His mother even called him a beast on the field. “He loved the sport and lived and breathed it,” said his father, Schaine. […]
Isiah Brown, 22, a well-liked guy with a sentimental heart
When Isiah Tariq Brown was a senior at Olney High School in 2009, he was voted the person who got along with everyone. “He loved his friends,” his mother Nicole Brown said. “He was outgoing and very generous and compassionate. He was a leader amongst his friends.” Isiah was born Jan. 26, 1991 in Philadelphia […]
Nashawn Jones, 25, the funniest rapper who never got the chance to make it
It was Nashawn Jones’s dream to become the next rap artist who made it out of Philadelphia. “He always said he was going to buy me a big house and move me out of the city,” said his mother, Patricia Jones. “And I was looking forward to his dream becoming his reality one day soon.” […]
Rahmeer Jackson, 20, protector of the family and excellent chess player
In the eyes of his younger sisters and cousins, Rahmeer Jackson was more than just a big brother figure; he was a source of unwavering love and protection. His actions spoke volumes, as he embraced the role of a guardian with sincerity. Whether on a crowded city street or in a quiet neighborhood, he had […]
Andrew Stengel, 29, top tier salesman and lover of classic cars
As the only child of a dad who worked in the hotel industry, Andrew Joseph Stengel would travel the world. He even lived for a time as a kid in the Marriott Marquis in New York City, where he learned at an early age how to navigate to and from school on the subway independently, […]
Brian ‘Machi’ Lawhon II, 30: “It’s not goodbye. It’s ‘see you later.'”
The best day of Brian Michael Lawhon II’s life was the day he became a father. He was still in high school, but he and his girlfriend, Jennifer, doted on the baby girl they named Ayanna, which means “pretty flower,” and they made it work. “He was young, but he continued school, and he worked […]
Tyeece Lovett, 21, loved helping his family—even to clean
Even though he was the baby of the family, Tyeece Lovett was always known as Poppa. “It’s because he was the main man who held everybody together no matter what the situation was,” said his mom, Tanya Anderson, as she cried. “He was our everything.” Before he was killed, he had just moved into an […]
Marc Anthony Santiago-Moyer, 24: ‘What’s our million-dollar move today?’
“What’s up, family? So what’s our million-dollar move today?” It’s a phrase Marc-Anthony Santiago Moyer would say often, and now his little brother, Ben, carries on the tradition in the mornings when he comes down for breakfast. The homage shouldn’t come as a surprise, because even though they were born 17 years apart, they spent […]
Christine Whitaker, 56, cherished her daughters after rebuilding her life
After becoming a single mother at 20, Christine Yvette Whitaker lived a busy, vibrant life with her daughters in tow. No matter where she went, you saw her with her first daughter, Nashay, and her second daughter, Chikeena, who soon followed. Even though Chrissy was determined to do the best she could for her two […]
Jordan Hayward, 21, firefighting trainee who went to church every Sunday
When most of his high school classmates were waffling about what to do with their lives, Jordan James Marquise Hayward already knew his calling—to become a professional firefighter. It made perfect sense to his family and friends, who say Jordan’s burning desire to help others never stopped. Becoming a firefighter in Philadelphia takes considerable preparation […]
Brandon Thomas, 24, fiercely talented boxer who still appreciated his ‘momma love’
Brandon Thomas was a teenager when he got into boxing, training up to five days a week even as he grew older. His mother, Theresa Thomas, recalls heading to gymnasium in New Jersey, the way its atmosphere hung heavy with the smell of stale sweat and the silent intensity of the impending match. When her […]
Khalil Thomas Smith, 33, ‘would give you the skin off his bones, not just the shirt off his back’
Anyone who knew Khalil Thomas Smith knew he was one of the most generous people around. He would host cookouts, paid for out of his own pocket, for his birthday and Fathers’ Day. Every year he would host a large community event where everything was free, including food and entertainment. And he would go to […]
Ameya Spratley, 28, ‘only child, best friend’ whose name lives on in domestic abuse center
When she was a feisty, caring child, Ameya Spratley would bring home stray cats and dogs and nurse them back to health. So it was no surprise the her father, William Spratley, when she told him she was expecting her first child at age 16. Though it would be a challenge, she knew she had […]
Neal Isaiah Moore, 35, loving father who dreamed of cooking for stars
From the moment Neal Isaiah Moore was born, his grandmother had a feeling about him, and it’s right there in his middle name. They decided his first name would be his father’s but with a different spelling. But Isaiah was chosen for the middle name because she said he was a prophet. As a child, […]
Amir Izeel Pinkney, 19, had ‘a smile that took everything away’
To his grandmother, Amir Izeel Pinkney will always be a baby in some ways—his image forever one of unadulterated earnestness, unabashed kindness and squished bread. A 3-year old Amir held the bread anytime the two went shopping. Looking up to his grandma, he’d grin ear to ear, his grip on the loaf tight and clammy […]
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