At age 23, Juwan Donte Evans had left his past behind him and putting his energy into something positive: A clothing line.
“He changed his life and he got himself together and that’s how he created Blockworks,” said his mother, Tiffany Hudson. “He went from the block to working and started selling clothes.”
Juwan sold his T-shirts, hoodies, sweatsuits, hats and other garments through social media and out of the trunk of his car.
“He wanted a store. He wanted to have a legitimate business, but he didn’t make it that far,” Tiffany said.
On Nov. 9, 2017, Juwan was playing video games with some friends when he got a phone call. He left to go meet someone, and moments later he was fatally shot in the 3100 block of Page Street in Strawberry Mansion, a few blocks from his home. His murder remains unsolved.
“He was funny, he was lovable, whatever you asked him to do, he’d do it,” Tiffany said. “He was respectful. He was awesome.”
Since Juwan’s death, Tiffany has taken control of Blockworks and continues to sell merchandise through @blockworkbrand_ on Instagram.
Juwan was born Aug. 17, 1994 in Philadelphia to Tiffany and his father, Juwan Aldridge. Tiffany has three other children, ages 23, 21 and 11.
She was 16 years old when she gave birth to Juwan, and having him completely changed her life.
“I was a kid. We grew up together,” she said. “I went to school, he went to school. Everything I went through, he went through.”
Juwan (far right) and his family.
Juwan earned his high school diploma at Job Corps, where he studied car mechanics.
Juwan had a way with people. He was a good friend and would not hesitate to lend a hand if someone needed him. In fact, he would sneak friends into the basement if they had nowhere else to go.
“If you needed a place to live, Juwan would bring you home,” Tiffany said.
Tiffany wants her son to be remembered by his character.
“He was a good guy,” she said. “It’s crazy because he’d always help someone out, and my son was killed by people he knew, people he called his friends. And I don’t know why.”
Juwan is laid to rest at White Chapel Memorial Park in Feasterville.
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 person responsible for Juwan’s murder. Anonymous calls can be submitted by calling the Citizens Crime Commission at 215-546-TIPS.
Date: 2017-11-09
Location: 2001 N 30th St, Philadelphia, PA
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