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.
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By Michele Ruffin, Jamil’s mother
If you said something funny enough to make Jamil Malik Howell flash his signature dimples, you knew you were doing something right. “Those dimples didn’t come out for just anybody,” his family said. “You had to earn them.”
Jamil, affectionately known as Mil or Milli, was a gentle giant with a humble spirit and a laid-back energy that made everyone feel at ease. Born January 29, 1987, in Philadelphia, Jamil grew up on the 5900 block of Ellsworth Street in West Philly before later moving with his mother to Lancaster. It was there that he discovered his love for basketball—a passion that stuck with him for the rest of his life.
“Basketball on Sundays with his friends was sacred,” his family remembered. “That was his time to let loose, laugh, and just be Mil.”
Jamil wore many hats in his life: son, brother, friend, plumber, and proud father to his two daughters, Kaylee Michele and Muneerah Jamillah.
“He loved his daughters with every fiber of his being,” his mother, Michele, said. “He made sure to spend real time with them. That mattered to him more than anything.”
Kaylee, now 15, remembers their time together with joy and pride. “My daddy was a good father. He played with me, took me to the park, and he taught me how to pray as a Muslim,” she said.
Muneerah, just 8 years old, holds onto a powerful memory. “Thank you, Daddy Jamil, for saving my life that day. I love you forever and ever.”
Jamil got married in 2009 to his wife, Shandi. Though they eventually separated, they remained united in their love for Kaylee.
Professionally, Jamil worked as a plumber for Belfor Restoration, where he quietly impressed those around him. His boss once told Michele, “You raised a good man.”
“He picked up the trade on his own,” Michele said. He never even told me he was learning plumbing until he got an apprenticeship.
Before Belfor, Jamil worked at the Philadelphia International Airport, where he fueled and de-iced aircraft. Whether it was plumbing or planes, Jamil approached everything with care and precision.
Jamil had a love for video games, especially NBA 2K. His go-to team? The Miami Heat. “If he wasn’t working, with his daughters, or on the court, he was probably beating someone in 2K,” his family said.
His siblings, Allon and Mekaylah, looked up to him. “My brother is traregular,” Allon said, using one of Jamil’s own favorite words, which meant being different in the best way. “He’s not your average guy.”
“He was always real laid back and quiet,” Mekaylah added. “You had to really know him to see all the sides of him.”
Jamil had a few sayings he carried like a badge of honor. “Karma is undefeated,” he’d remind people. Or, “I’m around even when I’m not around.” And of course, that classic Jamil original: “Traregular.”
As a kid, Jamil wrestled, played football, and even picked up music, playing bass in elementary school. He was the kind of person who tried his hand at everything—and usually excelled.
Tragically, Jamil’s life was cut short on March 26, 2019, when he was shot in Port Richmond. He was taken to Temple Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at the age of 32.
But numbers never told the full story of Jamil Howell. He was a man of calm strength, deep love, and quiet brilliance. He leaves behind two daughters, two siblings, and a family and community that will never forget his soft laugh, his wisdom, and his unmistakable dimples.
“He really was around, even when he wasn’t around,” his family said. “And he always will be.”
Anyone with information regarding any murder is urged to contact the Philadelphia Police Department at 215-686-TIPS (8477). There is a $20,000.00 reward leading to the conviction of a suspect.
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