Obituaries 347
Sahmir ‘Smiley’ Toliaferro, 20, a gifted young man who rescued stray dogs
Sahmir Marquan Toliaferro was a voracious reader, even in elementary school, when he received the highest score on an aptitude test and was put in a special school for gifted children. He didn’t even have to study, said his mother, Mercedes. He just had a knack for picking up concepts and applying knowledge to unique […]
David Becton, 31: ‘If you have family, you are rich’
David Becton was one of the most optimistic people his family knew, always looking on the bright side as he went through life with a smile on his face and a strong work ethic in his heart. He had a nickname for everyone, and many of them often stuck. “If you have family, you are […]
Gregory Dennis-Felder, 33, security guard and amazing father who beat the odds
Gregory M. Dennis had a lot of qualities that made him stand out, but most of all it was how he cared for his family. “I had a heart attack in the kitchen one day,” his mother, Mary Felder recalled. “Greg came in and all I said was, ‘I couldn’t breathe.’ He picked me up, […]
Jackson Silva Perez, 23, landscaper and devoted father of two boys known for his wacky dance moves
Jackson Silva loved making people laugh, whether with him when he made a joke or even at him when he was tearing it up on the dance floor with his wacky moves. At family gatherings, he always knew how to start the party. “He was the one hyping the party dancing with everybody even though […]
Ammron Hargrove, 29, was Mr. Elmo to his preschoolers and loved his sister’s salmon broccoli cheesesteak
Sometimes they called him Mr. Elmo, other times Mr. A. But it was because they were preschool kids, and even though they had trouble saying their teacher’s name, they loved him. Ammron Hargrove started teaching preschool around 2012, said his sister, Porscheca Wright. She was surprised he went into it, but she wasn’t surprised that […]
Jy’heim Price, 20, life of the party and entrepreneur who honored his slain older brother in the car business
Jy’heim Price was the third youngest out of eight children. “Jy’heim was a good well-mannered young man who would come to your rescue no matter what. Jy’heim was the sweetest, funniest, caring person you would ever know. He was the peace maker of any situation and just loved family. He would stay busy so that […]
Andre Lyles Sr., 37, family man who had just bought a house, with plans to start a youth group home
With children ranging in age from 2 to 21, Andre Lyles’ house was sometimes chaotic and often loud—but it was always filled with laughter. Though the family wasn’t new, the house was. Andre and his wife, LaRoi Lyles, embarked on a promising chapter of life when they bought the house in summer 2023 in West […]
John Culberson, strong father figure to his step-children who could dance like James Brown
No matter how long it’s been since a person has been murdered, the pain still rings true years, even decades, later. That’s the case for John Culberson’s family, who was killed in Philadelphia in 1990. He was Yolanda Bell’s step-father, and she contacted the Philly Obit Project because even though she lost him 34 years […]
Rashiek Austin, 39, goofball who had the biggest smile and a bigger heart
Anyone who knew Rashiek Austin knew that when they saw him, that goofball was going to be messing around. “Anything he did was goofy,” said Sharita, the youngest of his there sisters. “All he did was make you laugh because he always had something funny to do or to say.” Rashiek grew up in Nicetown […]
Benjamin ‘Benny Blancco’ Saeed Davis, 24, a helping hand and ravenous rapper
A car ride with Benjamin Saeed Davis, aka Benny Blancco, meant listening to instrumentals and beats that he would inevitably freestyle to—with rhymes that never missed. Benjamin cared for those around him with a passion that rivaled his love of music. In his presence, you were sure to find people laughing, smiling and most definitely […]
Joseph Lee, 32, ‘Trapper the Rapper’ who loved learning languages
One thing that family and friends would agree on about Joseph Lee is that he was a dedicated student. Joseph loved learning, and even though he did not stay in a regular school setting, he did get his GED and never stopped teaching himself new things. He enjoyed recording happenings in his community and loved […]
Braiheen Jamison, 22, home health aide who wanted to marry fiancee ‘and have 10 kids’
It was the spring of 2011, and Braiheen Jamison was preparing to start his new life. A recent graduate of Glenn Mills High School, Braiheen had a job interview lined up and was expecting a baby boy with his fiancee, Kenya. “They wanted to get married and have 10 kids,” says his mother, Wendy Jamison. […]
Anthony L. Merriett, 55, had a thing for his family, chess—and aliens
Anthony L. Merriett took his work seriously, building a career for himself in construction with a legacy that lives on in storefronts and homes across the city. But he never took himself too seriously—or the aliens he said would be coming any day now. “He had this thing for aliens,” said his wife, Philon Carter, […]
Jasmine Lewis, 20, college basketball star dreaming of the WNBA
Jasmine Aaliyah Lewis started playing basketball in fourth grade, and it quickly became apparent that she had talent. She fell in love with the game at Sturgis Playground in East Oak Lane, then perfected her skills on the court at Mastery Charter North High School. By the time she reached Lackawanna College in Scranton, Jasmine […]
Isaiah J. Pagan, 19, had an 89 mph fastball and big dreams in real estate
When Isaiah J. Pagan was on the mound, this tenacious baseball player never backed down from a challenge. Thanks to a level of dedication lacking in most teenagers and guidance from his father as a coach, he became such a talented pitcher and centerfielder that he was being recruited by several university teams. “He always […]
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