As soon as “That’s What I Like” played at a family event, you’d see Hugh Arthur Certaine Jr. look over towards his mom, Geraldine Nelson, motioning her to dance to their favorite song.
Whether it was cracking jokes about being short, making silly faces or attempting to dance, all Hugh ever wanted to do was make people smile.
Hugh, or better known as Hughie by his family, originally wanted to go to carpentry school, but classes filled up. In June 2017, he started taking welding classes at the Philadelphia Technician Training Institute to become a welder and support his son, Zair, 9.
But he wouldn’t have the chance to start his career or watch Zair grow up. On Nov. 22, 2017, the day before Thanksgiving, he was fatally shot at 68th and Greenway. Police have not yet made any arrests.
“I don’t want anyone to think that’s who he was, that was his past, but that wasn’t his present, that wasn’t what he was trying to go for,” said Crystal Nelson-Frazier, Hugh’s cousin. “Even though you see a gentleman on a corner doesn’t mean he doesn’t have a job, that could be that he’s trying to get his friend off of the corner.”
Hugh was born on Sept. 16, 1990 to Geraldine Nelson and Hugh Certaine Sr. and grew up in Southwest Philadelphia. The second oldest of five siblings, he had two brothers, Nydir Certaine and Gerald Nelson and his two sisters, Humya Certaine and Angelena Certaine.
His mother called him her mean child because he never smiled in pictures, something his family always joked with him about.
“People would say, ‘I thought he was so mean because he didn’t smile’ but when they got to know him they were like ‘Oh my god he is so sweet,’” Geraldine said.
Graduating from Saint Gabriel’s Hall High School in 2008, Hugh bounced in between jobs helping out his cousins who worked in construction and had a tire disposal company.
In 2006, Hugh met Brittney Handford, Zair’s mother, and they had their son in 2011. Three years later, he met Tajah Bussey, his partner at the time of his death.
While Hugh and Brittney weren’t a couple, they were a team. It didn’t matter what Hugh was doing, if Brittney needed him, he would be there, Crystal said.
As for his son, that was Hugh’s world, Crystal added.
“He was always there, anything he wanted to do, Hugh would take him,” Crystal said with a laugh. “He was very spoiled by his dad, there wasn’t nothing he wouldn’t do for his son.”
Since Hugh’s passing, Zair has tried to step up to his father’s role as the protector of the family at family events.
Zair will go around hugging everyone, making sure they feel loved, or bust out a dance move to make people laugh because he knew that’s what his dad was doing, Angelena said.
“It’s so interesting to see because when I sit back and watch him I see that he’s really trying to become his dad, he’s trying to fill that void a little bit,” she added.
Family was Hugh’s everything. He enjoyed attend family gatherings and events, and going out and visit family members and family friends, even if they hadn’t talked in a while.
“He would always call his family just to say I love you and hang up,” Geraldine said. “He would never hang up a call without saying I love you.”
The family celebrated what would’ve been Hugh’s 30th birthday last month. They watched videos of him dancing and joking around and remembered all of the good times they had with him, which is what they believe he would’ve wanted.
“He left a big imprint, especially with our family, and he was such a great influence on us, and we will always remember him and he’ll always live through us,” Angelena said.
A reward of up to $20,000 if available to anyone that comes forward with information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the persons responsible for Hugh’s murder. Anonymous calls can be submitted by calling the Citizens Crime Commission at 215-546-TIPS.
Resources are available for people and communities that have endured gun violence in Philadelphia. Click here for more information.
A portrait of Hugh is included in the latest exhibition of Souls Shot: Portraits of Gun Violence.
Date: 2017-11-22
Location: 6600 Greenway Ave, Philadelphia, PA
