Obituaries 316
Khalil Hicks, 39, a father who designed and sold clothing
In the summer of 1997, Khalil Hicks and Saleemah Oglesby set eyes on each other for the first time outside of Power 99 FM’s annual Powerhouse concert. They had mutual friends, and the group had purchased tickets for the concert. But when they tried to enter the concert with the tickets, they found out they […]
Ninetyfive South Stewart, 30, a vegan who made family his priority
He went by Anthony and Kareem at different points in his life, but by the time he became an adult, Ninetyfive South Stewart had embraced his unusual name. “It brought him a lot of attention, and he loved attention,” his sister Darlene Lee said. Ninetyfive was born at the Dover Toll Plaza in Delaware on […]
Kyron Howerton, 24, doting father who “fixed everything”
Kyron “Rondo” Howerton was an unabashed “momma’s boy.” He and his mother, Kimberly, hung out at the mall, walked along the Delaware River waterfront, cooked soul food together, and swapped relationship and parenting advice. When Kimberly dropped more than 130 pounds, Kyron cheered her on Instagram: “Ma, you got this! You’re looking like a snack […]
Angel L. Torres III, 22, Philly sports fan with a remarkable memory for stats
Angel Luis Torres III wasn’t an ordinary sports fan. He immersed himself in statistics, memorizing data on players from the major leagues all the way down to the local high school teams. He and his mother, Christy Hernandez Torres, shared a passion for sports. They took part in fantasy football, but baseball was Angel’s true […]
William McElhenny, 45, kind and generous in spite of challenges
William McElhenny was on his way to visit his cousin when he spotted some household goods on the sidewalk with a “free” sign. William, who went by Bill, grabbed four margarita glasses and presented them to his cousin, Gayle Dickinson, when he arrived at her Southwest Center City home. “He said, ‘Look what I got […]
Protected: Raymond Holmes, 39, Mr. Fix-It and Doting Family Man
There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.
Latoya Wright, 37, mother of four who had a gigantic personality
Everyone who went to Latoya Wright’s house in North Philadelphia knew they were in for a good time. Her home served as a gathering spot for family, especially around the holidays, where the music was always blasting and Latoya was the center of attention. “My sister was the main entertainment. She had a gigantic personality,” […]
Jayden Lucas, 18: ‘He died doing what he loved, playing basketball’
When Jayden Lucas was in middle school, he would go out of his way to meet Makayla Myers as they navigated their way on SEPTA from Northeast Philadelphia, where they lived, to Center City. She saw him as just a friend, but as they got older, their relationship blossomed. Jayden got his first car in […]
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 […]
Antonio “Tony” Miller, 25: ‘My gentle giant’
Antonio “Tony” Miller was the ultimate prankster. One time, he convinced his young niece that he was talking to her through the TV, assuming the identity of SpongeBob SquarePants. Tony chatted with the stunned girl on the phone, describing exactly what she was wearing and watching. In reality, her father had fed Tony the information […]
Tymel Fullwood, 35: ‘He was truly my soulmate’
When Tymel Fullwood proposed to Amanda Lawson in 2019, there was no fuss or fanfare, just a simple statement: “Put this ring on your finger because you know we’re going to spend the rest of our lives together.” And Amanda did. They had met in June of 2016 when Tymel came around to visit his […]
Richard Jackson, 40, hardworking provider who wanted the best for his family
When Tia Wilson ordered a Jolly Rancher cocktail at a sports bar one night in 2005, her selection sparked a conversation with a man who turned out to be much sweeter than her drink. Tia, who was 23 at the time, was at the bar with a few family members watching the Bernard Hopkins fight […]
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 […]
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