Big Willie will be missed

Big Willie, a Funktown local was gunned down Thursday during the Meserlie verdict riots on 7th and Foothill. As far as anybody knows this incident was not related to the riots and was most likely a case of mistaken identity. The incident is tragic beyond belief. Big Willie was a hustler and I did buy drugs from him on occasion, but he was a gentleman and a gentle man. A gentle giant. His voice could be heard bellowing a block away yet I never saw him get angry. Even though I barely knew him he always remembered my name and waved to me when he passed by. He never pushed drugs on me and the kids around the neighborhood saw him as a powerful but kind representative of the block. His memorial is growing to be the size of Princess Diana's and I imagine it will remain in place for a long time. It is not the first memorial I have seen on that site, but it is by far the most brilliant one with full size photos of Willie the man and his family. Big Willie I hope the fact that a mere stranger like myself appreciated you so much can at the very least have some positive impact. I am sure you would want it that way. You will be missed.

By Cdub and everyone at Hoodpushin records