Young Dolph was immortalized in his hometown of Memphis with his own street on Wednesday (December 15). The tribute was unveiled at a public ceremony on Dunn Avenue between Airways Boulevard and Hays Road near the Memphis Depot Industrial Park. The street in his neighborhood of Castalia Heights is now called Adolph “Young Dolph” Thornton, Jr. Avenue.
The City of Memphis also declared November 17 — the day of Young Dolph’s senseless murder — will be a Day of Service. Dolph was a pillar of his community and his philanthropic work echoed throughout Memphis. In fact, Dolph was in town that fateful day to participate in his annual turkey giveaway event ahead of Thanksgiving.
As Councilman JB Smiley Jr. said, who sponsored the street name resolution, “It’s about celebrating our own. Young Dolph was truly one of us.”
The street sign is particularly significant because the only other person who has one is the late civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr.
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Meanwhile, a public memorial for the late Paper Route Empire CEO is underway at the FedEx Forum in Memphis. Livestreamed on REVOLT TV, the event features old footage of Dolph in the studio, filming videos, performing and just hanging with friends and family as snippets of his music play in the background.
T.I., Gucci Mane, 2 Chainz, Gangsta Boo, 8Ball and MJG and several other of Young Dolph’s fellow rappers sent in special videos messages talking about how much they loved Dolph.
The event takes place from 12 p.m. CT to 3 p.m. CT and boasts performances, speakers and more. According to a statement from Audible Treats, “It’s not like a concert. It’s a lot of people speaking about him, from the mayor to reverends to various philanthropy recipients from over the years to his former principal.”
Young Dolph was shot and killed on November 17 as he was picking up baked goods for his mother at Makeda’s Homemade Cookies. Witnesses at the scene say they saw a two-door white Mercedes leaving the scene shortly after the shooting. The car has since been located, but the suspects remain at large.
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On November 24, Dolph’s family shared a statement addressing their loss, saying, “There are no words that exist, that sufficiently express the pain we are feeling as a family. Losing Adolph, Dolph, Man-Man, changes our lives forever. And while we will take each day as it comes, we are comforted in knowing that he leaves a legacy that reflects his heart. A heart that was for his family. A heart that was for the people.
Young Dolph Laid To Rest In Memphis
“We are grateful for the outpouring of love. We are grateful that his godly obligation to show kindness to the world is being acknowledged. As a family, we were blessed to call him our son, our nephew, our brother, our cousin, our partner and our Father. And now, we have the honor of calling him our angel. A role he has always played.”
Watch the livestream of Young Dolph’s memorial above.
