Abdul-Rahmaan Abd-Raheem Muhammad

1944 - 2017

Today we lost a man who touched the world through action and words. Born Andrew Sylvester Thomas on February 10, 1944 he later changed his name to Abdul-Rahmaan Abd-Raheem Muhammad when he became Muslim in 1973. He passed on January 2, 2017, in the presence of friends and family. He spent his life caring for others as an Imam, Husband, Father, Brother, Friend, Social Worker and Teacher. To know him is to know his command of delivery, inspiration and insight. Born in Hattiesburg, Mississippi to Elnora Jackson and George Thompson Sr., Abdul-Rahmaan leaves behind his wife, Sahirah Muhammad, after of 49 years of marriage. He additionally leaves his mother-in law, Elizabeth Edwards, as well as 12 siblings, William, Carl Ray, Benny, Jake, Jessie, Dora Lee, Alice, Hattie Lee, Bertie Lee, Irma, Patton, Veda; 12 children, including Henry Pullum and his wife Francis, Demetrius Brown, Jamilah Muhammad, Fareedah Muhammad, Abdul-Rahmaan Ibn Muhammad and his wife Dayeshell, Hakim Muhammad, Rashidah Muhammad, Zaki Muhammad, Wali Muhammad and his wife Tahnee, Kareem Muhammad and his wife Carla, Omar Muhammad and his wife Jaime, and Ayesha Muhammad; and over 20 grandchildren. He was predeceased by his parents, as well as his siblings, George Jr., Nathanial, Nola, Margariete, Lity Gean, Lorine and Mattie Lee. Abdul-Rahmaan went to High School in Hattiesburg, Mississippi at Earl Travillion, after graduating he attended Tougaloo College, (Class of 1967) in Jackson Mississippi, where he graduated with a duel degree in Theology/Philosophy and Sociology with a minor in Biology. He later attended Fordham University (Class of 1973), where he obtained his Masters of Social Work in Administration & Supervision and Policy & Planning. From 1974-1979, Abdul-Rahmaan served as Resident Imam of the Jackson Masjid and Muslim Umat on the Mississippi State University Campus. From 1979-1980 he served as Executive Director of Prince Warwick Adoption Services in Washington, DC. In 1980 he returned to New York as a Director of Adoption Resource Center. From 1980-1987, he was employed at Lakeside School. In 1988, Abdul-Rahmaan moved his family to West Hartford, Connecticut where he served as a Senior Vice President from 1998 to 2005 at the Village for Families and Children. After leaving the Village, he worked as a Vice President at My People Clinical Services, a company owned and operated by his son and namesake, Abdul-Rahmaan Abd-Raheem Ibn Muhammad. Salat al-Janazah (funeral prayers) will be held promptly at 3pm on Wednesday, January 4, 2017 at Henry L. Fuqua Funeral home located at 94 Granby St, Bloomfield, CT 06002; followed by burial services at the Enfield Muslim Cemetery located at 90 N. Maple St, Enfield, CT 06082. There will be a memorial service from 5-9pm on Friday, January 6, 2017 at the Artist Collective located at 1200 Albany Ave. Hartford, CT 06112. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make a memorial donation in Abdul's name to the National Kidney Foundation at www.kidney.org.