Obituary of Pharrell Owusu Asare

Message from your Mother,

Pharrell, my handsomely son. My first child, Nana Baffour, beautiful sincere quiet soul. My real true love. Not how Pharrell died, but how did he live. In life we loved you dearly, in death we do the same. It broke my heart to lose you, but you didn’t go alone. As we feel sad for losing you Baffour, may we find comfort in the love that connects us even beyond this world. May no parent have to bury their child, but the other way around. I gave you all the love, but most of all you taught me how to really love. If God has called him now, I don’t have anything to say. I wish Pharrell a safe journey to his maker.

I pray God receives his soul into his bosom.I pray that God will bless and protect all those who loved Pharrell. I’m also pleading with God to expose the perpetrators of this horrific act and when he does that will give him all the glory.

Only God knows why your time with us ended too soon. Thanks for the great wonderful 20 years son, Lourdes and I will never forget you. Man of the house. “Mommy I want jollof”. You radiated a joyful light, and your absence is deeply felt by so many people. You were taken from us far too soon.

I will always cherish the beautiful memories. It has been a privilege to have you as my son. May our Heavenly Father grant you peaceful rest. It is extremely difficult to accept that you are no longer here.

Damirifa Due!,Due!!Due ne maame humu!!

Father's Tribute

The happiest day in my entire life was when Diamond told me she was pregnant by me and will keep it. I was so glad to hear her say that and it made me fell so deep in love with her. 

The baby will be my first child so I prayed earnestly for God to protect Diamond and the baby. They were my life. 

The day the ultrasound revealed the sex of the baby was also so joyful to me. To have a boy as my first child. 

Through prayers Diamond delivered the baby in good health. 

I decided to name him after my grandfather because my grandfather was my role model hence the name Baffour Owusu Asare was given plus been born on Sunday to both Ghanaian parents resulted in been given Akwasi meaning a boy born on Sunday. 

Her mom chose the name Pharrell so I respected her wishes too.

I bonded so good with my son when he came home from the hospital that he became so attached to me. 

At times he will not eat or sleep until I was around him. 

For Baffour to fall asleep, I had to put him on my chest for him to go to sleep. I went with him to most places and he became my best friend. We got along so good and communicated so well that I started calling him "My Buddy". 

He loved basketball so much that Diamond and I enrolled him in an academy where they traveled all over North America to play games.

 Throughout his life, Diamond and I took him to Ghana on 4 occasions to visit his great grandparents, uncles and aunties. 

The family in Ghana loved Pharrell so much that they were devastated when they heard of this sad news.

I really enjoyed the short time Pharrell was given to me. He was lovely, respectful, calm, easy giving, gentle and a very good boy who grew up to be a good man. 

Pharrell planned to visit Ghana with me this coming Christmas so it was something we talked about often before him passing on. 

I communicated very well with my son and I loved him so much and respected him greatly. I wouldn't choose any son over Pharrell, my flesh and blood. He loved, protected and babysat his little sister most of the time. They loved each other so much.

Sister's Tribute

To my little brother...

I'd like to start with a quote by Robert Fulghum; “I believe that imagination is stronger than knowledge. That myth is more potent than history. That dreams are more powerful than facts. That hope always triumphs over experience. That laughter is the only cure for grief. And I believe that love is stronger than death.”

The games we'd play and the worlds we'd create together will forever replay in my mind. As well as, the knowledge we gained from each other over the years and the history we've shared can never be erased. We talked about big plans and dreams we wanted for ourselves. You thought BIG never small. I'm so grateful I was able to experience you and share and be my true self with you. Connections like ours, don't happen in this lifetime too often. I appreciate you for trusting me with your dreams, secrets, thoughts and feelings. The laughs and times we've shared, as a family. 

Your death won't be in vain and my love for you outweighs it all, truly. You played the way you thought-- and for that I will always admire you. You already know what it is. Until we meet again. Love always, your big sister Dominique.

Uncle's Tribute

Pharrell 

Is a light his smile, his caring nature, his soul. 

He was and will always be a Light and my light. I love you Baffour. I wish we had more time to laugh, to hug to celebrate. I will forever hold you in my heart and you live on forever through us all.

Best Friend's Tribute

Hello, my name is Nine, and I was Pharrell’s best friend. I met Pharrell back in elementary school and we have been brothers ever since. It pains me greatly to be standing up here today, and it is also an honor to speak about the love I will forever hold for my brother. 

I had the privilege to grow up with Pharrell. We experienced the trials of growing up to be young men together, which built a bond I can’t even express with words. His funny, respectful, loyal and loving demeanor always kept me motivated, and he always knew where my head was at and I always knew where his head was at. We had an unspoken bond built off trust that had evolved over two decades that we knew each other. From playing basketball, riding our bikes, going to wonderland, flirting with girls to having deep conversations about the world, our lives, our families, our goals and our dreams, Pharell was one of the most important people in my life. No matter how far apart we were, we always found ways to see each other, always there to listen and support each other. It never mattered where we would hang out, whether that be the sandbox or a stairwell, what mattered was the depth of our conversations and the trust in the loyalty we had for each other.

Pharrell,  I could go on for hours about the respect, and love I have for you and for our friendship. I hope you are in a better, more peaceful place right now, I hope you know I will be here with your family through every step of this journey. I am here for your mom, your sister and your whole family. I hope you know you had a real, true friend in me, that cared about the important things in your life, that you know that I always had and always will have your back, that you will never be forgotten, and you will always be remembered. 

There is no money that could have ever put a price on our friendship.