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 since then maybe being the center of attention rubbed off on him.
His mother, Pat Conley, recalls one day the family’s block was having a party and everyone was outside talking, laughing, eating, playing and enjoying the festivities. They look up and Jason comes out with a wig on dressed like a lady. Everyone just laughed and laughed at him. These were the things Jason did.
“He was serious but when he had fun, he had fun,” Pat said.
The fun wouldn’t last. On September 27, 2014 police found Jason lying on the ground in front of a home on the 2900 block of West Oakdale Street. Jason had multiple gunshot wounds throughout his body, and he didn’t make it. He was 38. More than 10 years later, his murder is unsolved.
Affectionately known as “J” to family and friends, he was the younger of Pat’s two children but he was the bigger one. J was into sports and loved playing football or basketball with his friends from around the way in their North Philadelphia neighborhood. His friends loved him at school, and he was known for having a good time.
Pat recalls the time he went in for picture day in elementary school.
He was well dressed and had on a nice shirt with a tie when he left out for school. When Pat got the pictures back she looked at them and his tie was all over the place, she asked him what happened and he laughed saying no one else was wearing a tie.
Jason later attended private school at Delaware Valley, where he graduated from. After graduation Jason enrolled into the Marine Corp for two years. His mother Pat recalls that was a very joyous occasion for the family to see him graduate from Paris Island.
Once he left the Marine Corp Jason decided he wanted to go into business for himself so he invested into a Hotdog Cart and began his adventure with it but forgot the most important thing—getting a license for vendors, so the City made him close it down.
He loved keeping in touch with family members and would often call them and have conversations about how they were and what they were up too. They talked about good times they shared together. J would often reply with, “That’s what’s up.”
James, his older brother, does not like talking about Jason, but misses him a lot. He has his memories they share that will remain with him.
“Jason was always a dare devil who saw no fear in anything he approached since he was younger,” Pat said. “My brother, Jason’s uncle, gave him that name because when he was younger he loved doing stunts that other children wouldn’t do.”
She’ll never forget when he came home and told her he was going to be a father.
“He was truly happy and he named his child Khalil because it meant friend and companion, she said. “I was excited for him as well.“
One of his last outings he was going to Neshaminy Park for the day with his son but didn’t know it was closed for Labor Day, so they went to the beach and had a ball in the ocean. He talked about that day until his last day.
Anyone with information regarding Jason’s 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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