You could say Paris Gary was a gentle giant—something his mother knew to be true from the very beginning.
“Paris was born premature at eight months weighing a whopping 10 pounds,” said his mother, Denise Wells. And her son, who she called Peedi, had a whole lotta energy.
As Paris continued to grow, his kindergarten teacher recommended that Paris be tested for ADHD. When the test came back positive, he didn’t allow his diagnosis stop him. He found his own way of learning to memorize his school work and excelled in school. Paris was a proud graduate from Camelot High School.
“I can recall him coming downstairs the day of graduation in his cap and gown with some beat-up Timm’s, leaning to the side with a pair of boxers on, and his graduation gown saying, ‘1st Lady take this picture of me.’ We always laughed about this moment because it was a long time coming.”
“Peedi always called me his 1st Lady,” Denise said as she fought back her emotions.
While in school one day when Paris was 10, he was jumped, and from that incident his attitude changed. Like too many young men Paris went down the wrong path only to find his way back to the right path, and he became something of a serial entrepreneur.
“Peedi was a jack of all trades,” his mother Denise stated. “Anything he put his mind to he did. I brought his first Tattoo Kit when he was around 16-17 years old and he mastered the craft.
“Once he healed up he opened his Barbershop on 17th and Pulaski called The Barbershop. So many people were lined up to get their haircut from him each day and a lot of people are still in disbelief because he was a good guy. He was a protector and looked out for everyone. He has only been cutting hair for 6 years and had a big following.”
Peedi loved his family so it was no surprise when Peedi became a father at age 20. His children range from 10 years old to 10 months. Peedi was an involved father who devoted a lot of time with his children as well as his family.
Peedi was known around the neighborhood of 17th and Erie and around the city through the motorcycle community. “He began riding motorcycles around 20 years old because I did,” stated Denise as she laughed about it. “Once he began riding I stopped.” With his fellow riders Peedi did a lot of Community Events such as feeding the homeless, charity rides, trophy parties, club nights and forming other family bonds outside of his own family.
Throughout the neighborhood Peedi would help the elderly carry in groceries, help family members carry in their elderly mothers or fathers into the house from the car and make house calls by cutting family members hair when they could not come to the shop.
Paris Gary was one of two men shot multiple times in the 5900 block of N 3rd Street on Aug. 3, 2023. He died shortly after. He was 31. A suspect was arrested in his shooting.
His older sister Catena recalls Peedi helping her when she was recovering from a stroke. “Peedi would remind me to put my hand down when it would go up involuntary and I would put it down. We went to concerts, silent parties, just spending a lot of time at The Barbershop talking about life.”
He had also started security company called True Breed and clothing brand with the same name. Peedi also had a signature drink he sold called the Peedi Punch mixed with the right measurements of Hennessey and his secret ingredients to make others want more.
“He was the life of the party and gatherings,” Denise explained. “He would come in with his silly self and his funny sense of humor and greet everyone then pick up the microphone and sing Karaoke. One of his favorite songs to sing was ‘Can We Talk’ by Tevon Campbell. He loved him some old school R & B Music. He would sing songs for hours if you let him. Now it’s hard for me to go to family gatherings.”
