Obituaries

Mr. Rakim Lydell Peterson, Sr., affectionately known as "Rocky," passed away on April 19, 2018 at the age of 19 years. He was born May 2, 1998 in Saginaw, Michigan to Tiffany Peterson and Melvin Castanon.

Rakim was a resident of Saginaw, Michigan. He united with Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church and was baptized under the leadership of Pastor Edward Pierson. The family continues to serve there under the current leadership of Pastor Delwin C. Tatum. Rakim attended Saginaw High School and was on the basketball and football teams. He played AAU basketball three years with ADS-Express. Rakim was a very lovable person who loved his family and had many friends. He was a funny guy who loved to make you laugh. Within the last five months he had become a very caring and loving father. Rakim enjoyed old school music, dancing, drawing, singing, and eating PaPa Jessie’s barbeque. He had a special bond with his grandmother, Delores Drain, whom he lovingly called Doll. Rakim will be missed by family and friends who loved him dearly.

He leaves to cherish loving memories one son, Rakim Lydell Peterson, Jr.; his parents, Tiffany Peterson and Melvin Castanon; grandparents, Jessie Sr. (Delores) Drain; Willie Smith; great-grandmother, Ethel Mae Drain; one sister, Tonisha Peterson; one brother, Zayvion Peterson; the love of his life, Makayla Shivers; eleven aunts, Felicia McDaniel, Davatte (Rev. Clayton) Morris, Jackson, Mississippi, Angie Otis, Lendra Brown, Ann Smith, Georgia Smith, Pearlie Mae Kincaid, Mary Whatley, New York, New York, Mary McDonald, Alice Robinson, and Lois (TJ) Robinson; uncles, David (LaTasha) Peterson, Willie (Earline) Drain, Nathaniel Drain, Jessie Jr. (Dee) Drain, George Drain (Minnie Caldwell), Darren Casby, Washington, D.C., Jeffery Smith, Flint, Michigan; many cousins including Chaun Samuel Tolbert, Chaquille Tolbert, Teosha Peterson, Edward, Gianni, Eric, Demarcus and Devin Peterson, Brandon Marshall, Da’chaka , D’Angelo and Donald Holden, and many more; special cousin, Trevonte’ Peterson; many other relatives and friends including special friends, Tomesha Wicker, Shaquayvis Hamilton and DeShawn Murrell.

Rakim was preceded in death by his grandmother, Letha Otis Holley; grandfather, Willie B. Peterson, Jr., and his god-mother, April Johnson.

The family expresses special thanks to our family and friends, Pastor Delwin C. Tatum and the Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church family, for your prayers, calls, food and other expressions of sympathy during our bereavement.

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