Laughter, light music—especially Marvin Gaye—and people having a good time. “That’s what I would think of each time I saw my uncle, James Lambert,” said his niece, Tania Stephens.
James, 72, affectionately known as Simmie to friends and family in his earlier years, cut a striking figure in North Philadelphia, often seen well dressed in his suit and bow tie while marching to spread the word to others. A proud follower of The Nation of Islam, he had traveled with its founder, Elijah Muhammad, and one of his most joyful occasions was when he received his X, though he never officially changed his last name to it.
In recent years, James enjoyed hanging out with friends at the King Center at 21st Street and Cecil B. Moore Avenue, talking about the good old days. But mostly he was a peacemaker and a fierce protector to his family, especially to Tania, she said.
When she was young, Uncle Simmie stepped in to assist her mother with caring for her and her siblings, ensuring they had enough food and clothes. “We didn’t know we were poor because we were rich with love,” Tania said. “Uncle Simmie also gave me my first job. He would sell Kangol hats and when they came in I would have to wash them and place them on manikin’s heads so the buyers could see the product they were purchasing. Each week he gave me $5 for this job and one couldn’t tell me I wasn’t rich.”
After a close friend of James’ was killed years ago, he was never the same and spiraled out of control with drug addiction, Tania said. After spending some time in jail, he found the Nation of Islam again, and they helped him get into rehab to start getting his life back in order. He eventually moved back in with Tania for a time.
But his life was cut short on June 14, 2022, not far from the King Center. Around 3 a.m. a group of teenagers were caught on camera laughing and filming videos as they beat him to death with a traffic cone. Two of the teens involved have been arrested and charged with murder.
Besides the brutal and public way he died, Tania said it especially hurts because she always thought young people thought highly of him. “Uncle Simmie has always been well known, a trend setter, well mannered, well dressed, caring, and to the younger generation a cool old head,” she said.
The loss has devastated the family.
“I miss my uncle so much, this hurts,” said Tania. “My mother is 84 years old and has not been herself since this happened. She relives that morning and can’t shake this. We as a family are in counseling but we will never be the same again.”
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