Nearly a month after the death of Young Dolph, who was shot to death while at Makeda’s Cookies in Memphis, the rapper's memorial service was held on Thursday. The celebration of life service at Memphis’ FedEx Forum included some of the biggest names in music, as well as Dolph's family members and many more community leaders, Rolling Stone reports.
Here are some of the most memorable moments from the service.
Three young people who Young Dolph helped spoke about his generosity.
Dolph, also known as Adolph Robert Thornton Jr., inspired hundreds of people during his life. Three young people who were especially impacted by the musician spoke up at his service.
Timothy Fletcher is a drummer who earned $30,000 after winning Dolph’s “#ThatsMajorChallenge” in 2019. The drummer shared some words of wisdom he learned from the artist when they first met.
"It's what he said to me that really shocked me," Fletcher said. "He said, 'Whatever you want, just go and get it and don't let nobody stop you.' He asked me what I do for it. I said for my family. And he was like, 'If you keep doing it for your family, you ain't never gonna lose because that's what I do it for.'"
One of the young people, Jose Consado, received a $25,000 gift for winning Dolph’s “Penguins” challenge. Consado won the award after being able to interpret Dolph’s "Penguins” song in the most creative way, The Source reports. The $25,000 winner said the gift, as well as Dolph's encouragement, helped him get his life together after being released from prison.
Jackie, now known as “Lamborghini Jack,” was the winner of Dolph’s “Rich Slave Lamborghini Giveaway.” The reward included Dolph’s 2018 custom-wrapped Lamborghini Aventador, which Jackie sold to buy a home for her family.
R&B singer Monica shared a letter from C-Murder.
Monica took the stage to share a letter written by C-Murder, who developed a special relationship with Dolph as the rapper often checked on him during his time in prison.
“He gave things to my daughters financially. He talked to me. He checked on me weekly, and the first thing he would ask was how was my spirits. He was truly a thug’s angel,” C-Murder wrote in the letter.
Monica also shared her own thoughts on the young artist.
“Your children meant so much to their father, that there was never a conversation [where] at least something they said or did … did not come up,” she said.
Friends and collaborators shared messages as a video tribute.
Many of Dolph's closest friends shared heartfelt words in a video tribute. T.I., Gucci Mane, Gangsta Boo, C-Murder, 8Ball & MJG, Berner, Paul Wall, 2 Chainz and Juicy J, as well as NFL Hall of Famer Deion Sanders, were among those who expressed their thoughts in the tribute.
While Dolph's friends expressed their love for the rapper, they also called for an end to the violence in Memphis.
Dr. Earle Fisher demanded respect for the rapper.
Local pastor Dr. Earle Fisher said Memphis should be proud to honor the inspiring musician.
“If we can honor Elvis Presley, I’d be damned if we ain’t finna honor Young Dolph,” Fisher said. “If we can name streets after racists, I’d be damned if we ain’t naming streets after Young Dolph. If we can erect statues after Jefferson Davis and white slave traders, I’d be damned if we ain’t finna tear off the roof of the FedEx Forum celebrating the life, the legacy of Young Dolph.”
State Senator Katrina Robinson presented a resolution.
As the celebration came to an end, State Senator Katrina Robinson presented a proclamation from the state of Tennessee to Dolph’s family.
Robinson announced that Nov. 17 in Tennessee and Georgia will now be known as the Young Dolph Day of Service. The senator spoke about Dolph's long list of musical accomplishments and acts of kindness.
“We express our sympathy and offer our condolences to the family proclaimed in Nashville on this 18th day on November 2021,” Robinson said, according to WMC.
Dolph's children shared heartfelt words.
The crowd was in tears while Dolph's son and daughter expressed their love for their father.
“If you’re feeling sad about my dad dying, I’m going to let you know that everything will be fine,” 7-year-old Adolph Thornton III, said, according to Fox 13. “If you don’t know, then I know that I will become a great man just like my dad.”
Adolph's 4-year-old sister, Aria Ella Thornton, spoke about the sweet memories she shared with her father.
“My dad is the best dad ever. I like to play with him in my heart because he is still my heart. And I will keep thinking of him forever and ever,” she said.
Longtime partner Mia Jerdine expressed her love for the artist.
Mia Jerdine described her longtime partner as a "benevolent spirit.”
“He had a heart of gold, a heart of David," she said. "We would go on dates. We were walking and someone was like, ‘Can I get your leftovers?’ He would literally go back inside the restaurant, order something entirely different, just to get that person something to eat. It made me love and like him even more.”
