Obituaries 344
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 […]
James Bolden, 49, ‘superb’ barber who survived near-fatal car crash
James Bolden was a gifted artist — not only on canvas, but on hair too. “He was a superb barber,” said Ernest Rouse, an old friend since grade school. “And when I mean superb, he could have won hair contest.” James and his family lived for a time with Ernest in the 1980s, and Ernest […]
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, […]
Ahmad Abrams, 18, rec center counselor who was deciding among his many college acceptance letters
Ahmad Abrams was going places. Fresh off graduating high school with honors, he started a job at UPS, but that was only temporary. He was in the process of deciding whether to join the Navy reserves or go straight to one of the many colleges that had accepted him—maybe Pitt, or Pace University in New […]
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 […]
Rykeith Sullivan, 35, former home health aide and aspiring dentist
Rykeith Sullivan, whose nickname was “Rock,” bore quite a few similarities to another who goes by “The Rock.” Maybe not completely in his physique, but Rykeith had a lot of the same qualities as the famous wrestler—a charming people person who captivated many with his smile and sense of humor. He was born on January […]
Stephen Hoston, 30: ‘He taught me a lot, and now he’s gone’
From the time Stephen Hoston III was a kid, he just wanted to bring family together. During family fun days, he would lead the charge picking games for the family—and be the most competitive player. One game, Rock Band, involved different families competing against each other, and it made the whole family better. “At first […]
Masako Suyko Griffin, 38, beauty queen and choir singer who loved her two children
It was no surprise in 2011 when Masako Suyko Griffin announced to her family she was going to get involved in beauty pageants. After all, to be in the presence of this Queen was an unforgettable experience. She always owned the room, said her sister Alista Stevenson. “People were captivated by her confidence, smile, walk […]
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