Camden Community Honors Late Activist Esiyah Dixon-Waheed with Memorial
Photo by Charles Curtis III
BY CHARLES CURTIS III | For AC JosepH Media
CAMDEN — On Aug. 13, Camden residents coalesced on the corner of Park Boulevard and Haddon Avenue, in preparation for a solemn gathering and display of unity.
Family friends and community leaders gathered in a memorial for prominent community member Esiyah H. Dixon-Waheed. On July 24, Dixon-Waheed was killed in a vehicular collision, struck by an alleged drunk driver in Missouri in a head-on collision.
William Strausbaugh, 61, has been accused of driving south in a northbound lane, causing the accident Strausbaugh and is facing a slew of charges, including driving while intoxicated and causing serious physical injuries.
Strausbaugh has an extensive criminal history particularly with DWIs, authorities said. At the time of his arrest, Strausbaugh had been driving with a revoked license. Dixon-Waheed, a Camden native, was visiting Missouri on a church retreat. Strausbaugh has pleaded not guilty.
As the community gathered they shared memorable moments and qualities of Dixon-Waheed.
“Everywhere she went she left a mark,” said Kameelah Waheed, Esiya’s aunt. “She was just so talented! She could sing, dance, and act! I remember when she played a lead role in Snow White and I was amazed.”
Bryan and Felicia Molock embraced each other and held “Justice for Esiyah” signs.
“She had the mind and passion for singing and was very encouraging,” Felicia Molock said.
As the vigil began, community leader and friend to the Waheed family Ronsha Dickerson made clear the need for the memorial.
“We want to show this family solidarity and love,” Dickerson said. “Esiyah is not a faceless person. She is loved.”
Dickerson led family and friends with signs and memorial shirts they up Park Boulevard
“We walk for her,” the crowd chanted in unison.
“This is about bringing awareness to Esiyah’s life and also to the dangers of drunk driving and driving while under the influence and to hold that man accountable,” said supporter Amirah Kane.
The crowd of about 20 quickly doubled in size by the end of the walk as the group settled in Farnham Park. The family was encircled by close friends and community members.
“As a community, we have to surround this family with love,” Dickerson said. “Keep the negativity out and keep the love in.”
The family used this time to reflect on Dixon-Waheed’s life and impact.
“I remember being at Walmart at 3 in the morning with Esiyah and at the checkout out I’d go looking for her,” said Tawanda Green, family friend and Dixin-Waheed’s Camden Sophisticated Sisters dance coach.
“She’d be in the aisles singing and dancing. She was always full of dancing and singing, that’s just who she was. Thank you for trusting me with her.”
Mahasim Parker-Waheed tearfully reflected on her daughter’s life.
“She was a dancer, a mentor, she won a Miss Camden pageant, she won bronze at the Wiley [University] pageant, she even started a seminar for women to better themselves,” Parker-Waheed said. “She’s done so much.”
Dixon-Waheed earned a bachelor’s from Wiley University. She had been a teacher in Texas for the past two years. An avid dancer, Dixon-Waheed was a member of the Camden Sophisticated Sisters and actively attended church.
Dixon-Waheed’s funeral was held on Aug. 16. A GoFundMe by the family has been organized to aid in funeral expenses.
Follow Us Today On:
Note from AC JosepH Media: If you like this story and others posted on Front Runner New Jersey.com, lend us a hand so we can keep producing articles like these for New Jersey and the world to see. Click on SUPPORT FRNJ and make a contribution that will go directly in making more stories like this available. Thank you for reading.
About Author
