The first school Dre’Ryl Coleman attended was called Bright Beginnings, a fitting name since that is exactly what he had from birth. Born in Pensacola, Florida, on June 1, 1997, he was nicknamed “Dr. Dre” before his feet touched the earth. Not even the sister who gave him the name knew who the real Dr. Dre was.
But it signified that he would go on to lead an impactful life, though maybe not as famous as that rapper and producer.
Dre’Ryl (pronounced Dray Rell) was still an infant when his family relocated to North Philadelphia. Over time, he covered nearly the entire city. Starting at age 5, he spent the next 12 years in South Philly which later became his favorite place to hang out. He was in West Philly for two years and finally settled in Southwest.
Dre had a life filled with love, laughter, and purpose but that did not shield him from experiencing the good, the bad and the ugly of the City of Brotherly Love. Compared to his older sister and brother, he was a busy young boy; so much so, that during his young years, he had quite a few mishaps, including contracting scarlet fever when he was a baby.
“I don’t know how he got it but it took five doctors to diagnose it back then,” his mother, Zaynah Hamiid, said. As a toddler, Dre suffered 3rd degree burns on his chest when he pulled a cup of tea off a countertop, and a few years later, he broke his wrist while riding his bike.
But Dre was persistent. None of his injuries stopped him. When he had the cast on his broken wrist, he tried to ride his bike again. He had to get a new cast. Still, he continued being that playful boy everyone knew and loved.
“Whenever he was hospitalized, he was busy,” his mother said, “I would go to see him at the hospital and he was never in his room.”
Like most young guys growing up in the inner city, Dre’Ryl liked to have money in his pockets, so he stopped school at Dobbins High and went to work at the early age of 14. He tried home-school for a year but he was more interested in working.
He was surprised at how many times he found work that did not require a high school diploma, his mom said. He took odd jobs and worked hard, determined to make his mark no matter what.
“Once he started working, I remember how he saved his money to buy his own car when he was old enough to drive,” Zaynah said. The playfulness in him showed when he got behind the wheel. “Dre had a need for speed,” his mother added, “I would always put on my seat belt and close my eyes because of the way he drove.”
When he wasn’t behind the wheel, he was much gentler, especially with young people, so it made sense that he worked with the Department of Parks and Recreation for 7 years. There he was a protector, a mentor and a friend to the boys and girls at the playgrounds.
Even though he didn’t have any children of his own, Dre loved kids. He actively participated in the fundraisers held to provide bookbags for the children and even purchased some with his own money. His proudest moments came as a football coach and he received letters of commendation because of his work with kids.
His off time was spent doing the same things the young people did; playing video games online or hanging out in South Philly with friends from his childhood. When he attended Dobbins, he developed a love for baseball.
At the first baseball game he attended, Dre saw Shane Victorino and Jimmy Rollins play. The teen may have left school and baseball but the sport did not leave him. He liked watching football when the Eagles played. He also enjoyed listening to Trap music.
Dre’Ryl liked to travel and every summer, he would go on trips out of the state with his friends. His aim was to get his passport and travel out of the country in 2024.
He didn’t get the chance.
On Feb. 4, 2024, he dropped off his coworkers after their 3 to 11 shift and headed home. He had parked the car and shots rang out at about 12:18 A.M. His mother knows this because his approach set off the cameras at the front door. Dre’Ryl was shot several times.
His mother heard the shots and ran to the door. The three unidentified assailants drove off. A reward is being offered for their arrest and conviction. The police drove Dre’Ryl to the hospital where he died from his injuries.
When he worked as a security guard at Allied Barton, he put people at ease and made them feel safe. Dre was very conscientious about his work. Those who knew him might call him driven. He had no problem accepting overtime, working the early 7 to 3 shifts before his regular 3 to 11 shifts.
A real family man, he also left behind nieces and nephews he was really close to. One thing he loved to do was tease his niece sometimes; greeting her with “Hey, Fat Girl” when he would come in from getting his haircut.
The Janazah (Muslim service) was held on February 8t, 2024 at Lenwood Jones Funeral Home 5911 Girard Avenue, Philadelphia, PA. Dre’Ryl is survived by his mother, his sister, his brothers along with a close circle of extended family and friends who will remember his smile and hold his memory close.
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