Brandon K. "Mookie" Reaves had a tattoo on his right hand that made it clear where his heart was.
"Toni's Boy" was a tribute to his mother, Louise "Toni" Gardner. "That tattoo signified the close bond and love that he shared with his mother," his family said. "Mookie was truly Toni's boy."
Mookie, for whom music and basketball also took up a big space in his life, was shot to death Friday after an argument in a West Philadelphia bar. He was 20 and lived in West Philadelphia, and formerly lived in Germantown.
"The excitement of playing basketball kept him going and, most important, kept him smiling as people will always remember him doing," his family said.
There was something about Mookie's personality that drew people to him, and he had a multitude of friends. He was also very popular with members of the opposite sex because of his energy and good looks.
Mookie was born to Toni Gardner and Bryant K. Reaves, but was raised by his stepfather, Goulbourne G. "Goldie" Thomas. He attended William Penn High School, where he played basketball.
His love of music could be attested to by members of his family and anyone else within earshot of the basement of his home, where he played rap, R&B and rock at high volume.
Mookie also is survived by two brothers, Army Sgt. Braheim Reaves and Malik "Bubb" Thomas; two sisters, Brandi K. Reaves and Monique "Pud" Thomas; his grandparents, Mary and Ryland Gardner and Carol Williams and William Reaves; his godmother, Kim Carson, a special cousin, Darice Gardner, and a special friend, Rasheem Hills.
Services: 10 a.m. Saturday at Good Samaritan Baptist Church, 62nd Street and Lansdowne Avenue. Friends may call at 9 a.m. Burial will be in Mount Moriah Cemetery, 62nd Street and Kingsessing Avenue. *
John F. Morrison
