Obituaries 344
Angelique Holloman, 15, hilarious on TikTok, so compassionate in life she couldn’t wait to be a foster mom
This story was produced as part of our Writing Heals program, in which we hire a family member of a victim of homicide to write the stories of people who have been killed in Philadelphia. For more information or to sign up to write about someone you lost to gun violence, click here. Story by David Bratcher, who […]
Christine Whitaker, 56, cherished her daughters after rebuilding her life
After becoming a single mother at 20, Christine Yvette Whitaker lived a busy, vibrant life with her daughters in tow. No matter where she went, you saw her with her first daughter, Nashay, and her second daughter, Chikeena, who soon followed. Even though Chrissy was determined to do the best she could for her two […]
Ronald Wilford, 27: “Booooogie!” was a protector who made everyone feel safe
This story was produced as part of our Writing Heals program, in which we hire a family member of a victim of homicide to write the stories of people who have been killed in Philadelphia. For more information or to sign up to write about someone you lost to gun violence, click here. Story by Donna Jones, Ronald’s […]
Ethan Parker, 12, talented singer whose song will never fade
This story was produced as part of our Writing Heals program, in which we hire a family member of a victim of homicide to write the stories of people who have been killed in Philadelphia. For more information or to sign up to write about someone you lost to gun violence, click here. Story by David Bratcher, who […]
Diallo Braheme Gray, 26, a Trekkie and Army veteran who was the ‘MacGyver’ of the family
This story was produced as part of our Writing Heals program, in which we hire a family member of a victim of homicide to write the stories of people who have been killed in Philadelphia. For more information or to sign up to write about someone you lost to gun violence, click here. Story by RuNett Ebo, mother […]
Craig “215 Stacks” Thomas Jr, 21, an accomplished musician and ‘just the perfect kind of person’
More than anything, Craig Thomas, also known as 215 Stacks, was wrapped in joy, bringing his infectious smile and positivity everywhere he went. It was a love for life and making people laugh that began early, when he couldn’t help but pull pranks on his family. “I remember when we were younger and I went […]
Iz’hir Gonzalez, 14, star athlete at Master Charter who was loved by ‘all the old ladies on the block’
This story was produced as part of our Writing Heals program, in which we hire a family member of a victim of Homicide to write the stories of people who have been killed in Philadelphia. For more information or to sign up to write about someone you lost to gun violence, click here. _______________________ Written […]
Nahray Crisden, 19, lightning-fast athlete who was ‘always trying to save people’
Nahray Crisden was his mother’s greatest blessing when she gave birth to him on Sept. 16, 2000 after struggling with serious health issues for most of her life. For his middle name, she chose Munakk, which means “savior” in Arabic. And Nahray lived up to that name. He tried to save the young men in […]
Derief Brady, 38, protector, car lover, and “Uncle Dad” who made sure his sisters always felt celebrated
Every birthday, without fail, Derief Brady showed up with a gift for his younger sisters. For Alesha Brady, it was almost always the same thing: a shiny new bike. “He gave me a bike for my birthday probably up until I was 13,” Alesha said with a laugh. “I don’t know how many bikes I […]
Trevonte Marks, a ‘man of the house’ at 15, who aspired to be a designer, rapper
Trevonte Marks never wore a bad outfit. Whether it was his school uniform or if he was dressing up for a special occasion, Trevonte, or better known as Tre, always made sure he looked good. Inspired by his dad and uncle’s style, Trevonte loved streetwear and sneaker culture, as noted by his impressive collection of […]
Kareem Wisher, 25, ‘Superman’ who helped raise three brothers and almost became a father
Even at an early age, Kareem Nasir Wisher knew how to light up a room with his affectionate smile and sense of humor that could brighten up any room. “He had a babyface with a million dollar smile—and a lot of jokes” said his aunt, Candice Colquit. “And a lot of jokes.” Like the time […]
Khyrie Isaac, 18, a ‘beast’ on the football field looking to start a clothing brand
Off the football field, Khyrie Isaac, could be silly and lighthearted once you got to know him, but put a helmet on him and he was a force to be reckoned with. His mother even called him a beast on the field. “He loved the sport and lived and breathed it,” said his father, Schaine. […]
Tyshea Howard, 28, “Tik Tok Queen” who also worked hard to support her 3 children
Whether it was with videos on TikTok or just being herself around the neighborhood, Tyshea Howard knew how to light up a room. She was usually the center of attention—but in a way that made the people around her feel seen, included and loved. “We’re at the supermarket, and this girl yells, ‘Ain’t you TikTok […]
Jocelynn Marshall, 35, a Loving mother and sister who Made Life Sweeter—With Love, Laughter, and Tastykakes from Work
If you needed to find Jocelynn Marshall on a Saturday afternoon, there were a few safe bets. She might be baking with her kids, helping them construct gingerbread houses or carefully coaching them through her famous sour cream pound cake. Maybe she was browsing the aisles at the East Asian market at FDR Park, on […]
Writing Heals: Marcus Yates, a 5-year-old Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka with dimples that melted hearts
This story was produced as part of our Writing Heals program, in which we hire a family member of the deceased to write the story of the loved one they lost. For more information or to sign up to write about someone you lost to gun violence, click here. ___________________________________________________ By Rochelle Yates-Whittington, Marcus’ mother There […]
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