In church, they called him “Preacher John.”
John Rawls, who became a born-again Christian later in life, extolled the merits of saving yourself and changing your life before the coming apocalypse.
He also penned poems about saving the Earth and odes to his many girlfriends, whom he showered with gifts.
“Womanizing — that was his favorite sport,” his cousin, Anthony Barnes, said, chuckling.
Tight since childhood, Anthony and John discussed starting a food truck business to help employ the younger members of their large family. As the oldest of seven siblings on his mother’s side, John would sponsor family reunions at Fairmount Park. He stationed himself behind the barbecue, flipping hot dogs and ribs, and wearing his Polo baseball cap and white apron from his job as a prep cook at Dave & Buster’s.
“Whatever you asked him for, he’d give you,” remembered John’s sister, Lawanna Rawls. “He was like a revolving door.”
Born June 10, 1960 in North Philadelphia, John was class valedictorian at Thomas Alva Edison High School, his sister said. Instead of going to college on scholarship, he joined the Army and was stationed in Germany.
“The only thing he liked about the Army was being away and traveling places,” Lawanna recalled. Quick-tempered, John was discharged after only a couple years after getting in a tussle with another soldier. He regretted that choice for much of his life, his sister said.
After serving several years in prison for assault, John was thrilled when Dave & Buster’s on Columbus Boulevard gave him a fresh start. He learned to cook from his mother, Evelyn Rawls, and his specialties were banana pudding and lima beans (not at the same time).
Having grown up poor, John flaunted his spending and considered himself untouchable due to his sizable gun collection, Lawanna said. He was known to carry more than $1,000 in his pocket and tip grocery cashiers at random.
Lawanna is convinced that her brother was set up when he was killed during a robbery gone bad on Jan. 18, 2020. John was shot multiple times in his chest in his living room at 3019 North Bambrey Street. A police investigation is ongoing.
John died just two years short of his planned retirement. His family had been arranging a large surprise 60th birthday party in June at Barber’s Hall sports bar.
Lawanna tried to persuade her brother to leave his violent neighborhood but “he just got set in his ways,” she explained. He had planned to buy a house after receiving his tax refund.
John enjoyed cracking jokes, old-school rap, and going out to dinner and to the movies with his family. Divorced after 20 years of marriage, he wore flashy suits and brimmed hats, rotating among his special lady friends.
He also watched CNN compulsively and took great pleasure in debating Trump supporters on Facebook, Lawanna said.
John nurtured a small social circle — you didn’t need many friends when you had a gigantic family and a “friend in Jesus,” his sister explained. John’s family and community often relied on him for backup when it came to overdue rent, designer hand-me-downs, or defending someone’s honor.
John with his family.
“He lived his life to the fullest,” Lawanna said. “No regrets.”
John is buried in Merion Memorial Park in Bala Cynwyd on top of his mother. He leaves behind three adult children: Daniel Thomas, Angela Withrow and Sharkia Gladden.
A reward of up to $20,000 if available to anyone that comes forward with information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible for John’s murder. Anonymous calls can be submitted by calling the Citizens Crime Commission at 215-546-TIPS.
Date: 2020-01-18
Location: 3000 block of N. Bambrey St, Philadelphia, PA
