Obituary of Jibril Abdul-Haqq

Jibril Abdul-Haqq was born Willie James Kitchell in Miami, Florida on October 13, 1942. He was the son of Willie "Stack" Kitchell and Ernestine Helen Ward. Stack was a Pullman Porter on the Florida East Coast Railroad, who was from Newark, New Jersey. Ernestine was a Floridian, born in Punta Gorda, and living in Miami with her family. During World War II, Ernestine moved to New York City to live with her Uncle Willie, for whom Jibril had his middle name. Returning to Miami shortly after the War, Willie "Pee Wee" Kitchell, attended public schools in Miami. Ernestine later married Alec Stephens, a jazz guitar player and band leader. From their union was born Alec Stephens, Jr. Pee Wee started learning to play the trumpet at Booker T. Washington Jr.-Sr. High School. A member of the Booker T. Washington Band, Pee Wee started a practice that he would continue for the remainder of his life--he always had his trumpet. Jibril graduated from Booker T. in 1960. He was married in 1962, and from that marriage was born Willie Jr. and Deattra Marie. Prior to that time, he enlisted in the Air Force, and served until 1966. His tours of duty included an assignment in Libya, where he first was exposed to Islam. After his return, from service, his marriage ended. He later had another child, Eugene. Finding a limited future for his music aspirations, Willie Kitchell moved to Newark, New Jersey in 1974. Realizing a spiritual void that he needed to fill, he found what he was searching for in Islam, and changed his name to Jibril Abdul-Haqq, his first name associating with the angel who blows a horn. His spiritual life now in order, he met the love of his life, Gladys (Karima) Holloway Pruitt. Jibril and Karima were married on February 11, 1978, and Jibril, Karima and daughters, Hollis and Gina began their life together as a family. To better support his family, and honoring his mother's love of education, Jibril enrolled and graduated from Essex County College. In the early 1980s, Jibril completed his college education graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Music at Rutgers University in Newark. In 1983 he joined the New Jersey Department of Human Services Division of Youth and Family Services (DYFS), where he remained to serve the people of the State of New Jersey until his death. He loved his music, collaborating often with Karima, and was always with his trumpet, though he played several instruments proficiently. He is survived by his wife, Karima, children Willie, Jr., Hollis (Nakia), Gina, Deattra (Nathan), and Eugene (Twyla), and a host of grandchildren and great-grandchildren, brothers Jimmy (Roxanne) and Alec (Helena), Aunt Iva Lee, Cousins Betty, Mark, Shariff, Pam and many other nieces, nephews, relatives and friends in Florida, Georgia, New Jersey, Indiana and Washington State.