Obituaries 346
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 […]
Angel L. Torres III, 22, Philly sports fan with a remarkable memory for stats
Angel Luis Torres III wasn’t an ordinary sports fan. He immersed himself in statistics, memorizing data on players from the major leagues all the way down to the local high school teams. He and his mother, Christy Hernandez Torres, shared a passion for sports. They took part in fantasy football, but baseball was Angel’s true […]
Writing Heals: Tyrek Dunn, 21, the fly guy with the cool smile—and a great bunny hop in the snow
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 David Bratcher, Tyrek’s brother It’s the […]
Damon Venson, 17, a ‘Dennis the Menace’ who talked his way out of trouble quoting the Bible
Damon Venson was the kind of teenager who made an impression the moment he walked into a room. He always looked good, always smelled good, and always had a smile that made people want to be around him. “Damon loved the ladies, and the ladies loved him,” his mother, Charmaine Venson, said with a laugh. […]
Writing Heals: Jameel Devlin, 46, ‘not your typical kid’ who grew up to be a barber and loving father
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 Yasmin Devlin-Barnes, Jameel’s mother […]
Writing Heals: Mecca Liles Harris, 14, a ‘spunky’ urban cowgirl who could have been a professional polo player
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 Dr. Shirley Jean Waites-Howard, who […]
Writing Heals: Jamil Malik Howell, 32, ‘Traregular’ guy who was there for his 2 girls
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. Photo credits: Kriston Bethel ___________________________________________________ By Michele Ruffin, […]
Souleymane Magassouba, 31, beloved Center City parking attendant who came from Guinea for a better life
Souleymane Magassouba was stepping out a store he spotted someone who would change his life. Shay Johnson got off the train, on her way to pick up her son from daycare, and bumped into him. He stopped her, but she waved him off, not interested at first. It wasn’t until she came back with her […]
Christian Miranda Torres, 42, forklift operator, protector and ‘MacGyver’ of the family
If something was broken in the house, you didn’t call a handyman—you called Christian. If your car needed fixing or your fridge refused to budge, Christian Miranda Torres was the guy who figured it out with nothing more than a look and a plan. “He was the MacGyver of the family,” his sister Maria Miranda […]
Antoine Coleman, Jr., 17, Aspiring Mechanic Who Treasured Connecting With Family
Through the power of Facebook, Antoine Coleman, Jr. finally met his father at age 15 after spending years searching for him. Antoine was ecstatic as the pair ate dinner at a TGI Fridays in the mall and compared notes on fashion and music. They shared the same facial features and “big ears,” Altaron Robinson remembered. […]
Jason Conley, 38, former Marine who started a hot dog cart and loved his only son
Imagine the nation celebrating your birthday every year and you were the center of attention. This happened everywhere Jason went on the 4th of July because that was a perk of being born that day of the Bicentennial Year— July 4, 1976. He had been born at the Walter Reid Army Hospital in Washington, D.C., and […]
Ra’d Moore, 33, schoolteacher at North Philly charter who worked with autistic youth
If it weren’t for the crab fries, maybe they never would have met. Ra’D Moore was stopping into the Chickie’s N Pete’s in Marlton, New Jersey, to pick up takeout when he bumped into Natalia Baranowski during the NBA playoffs. She was at the bar waiting for a girlfriend, and his food was taking a […]
Mario Pedro, 34, family man who enjoyed reading the Daily News
Mario Pedro picked up a copy of the Philadelphia Daily News every single day. He devoured the newspaper front-to-back, learning about everything happening in the city. “Every day he made sure he went to the store and got him a Daily News,” Cheryl Pedro, Mario’s mother, remembered. “He just loved to read the whole paper.” […]
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