Jabari McNeely

Please click here to view Jabari's Funeral service Tuesday, October 18 2022 at 12pm https://client.tribucast.com/tcid/3952447160

Jabari Amir Mcneely unexpectedly went to sleep at his home in Bowie, Maryland, on Sunday, October 9th, 2022. Jabari was born on September 7th, 2005, to the proud parents of Erik McNeely and Crystal Edmonds-McNeely.

Jabari was a very loving and active baby; those traits stayed with him through his 17 years. Jabari began his educational training at NASA Goddard Child Development Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, from 2009-2012. Our young Einstein would meticulously request his mom to prepare his lunch box with fresh blueberries, yogurt, and a turkey sandwich on flatbread because he said preschoolers require plenty of antioxidants. After graduating from NASA, he attended Turning Point Academy Public Charter School, where he excelled in science and won numerous awards. While in high school, Jabari found his passion for music and devoted many hours to writing, producing, and perfecting his craft.

You could only get Jabari’s attention by hollering a few fond names, such as Bari, Jew Jew, or Jackal, by any of his aunts or uncles. During his school breaks, visiting Uncle Jason and Aunt Maxine's house was a must. Jabari quickly learned what family principles and morals were after hearing them expressed and how they would proudly and openly acknowledge that he was their nephew and was going places. He looked forward to an "old-fashioned family reunion," where they caravanned with Uncle Rodney and Aunt Pecola to South Carolina. Jabari would take advantage of learning the layout of his father Tracy's homeland from his eldest uncle Michael, who taught him about farm life, working hard, and cultivating the land. The very unusual thing was to have a teenager willing and excited to spend weekends with the adults in his life. However, Jabari was the exception to the rule, as he cherished spending weekends with his uncle Gerald and Aunt Joyce. Jabari knew if he walked in on a conversation between the uncles and heard the term "My Man," it was Uncle Jackie singing Jabari's accolades.

He developed a daily routine where he would match hearts with his aunt Britt, who affectionately called him Big Nephew. His aunt, Tae Tae, saw Bari's family first over everything else mentality when she entrusted him to look after and care for his baby cousin, Mick. After years of taking care of his little brother Tray. Bari said he could now start his family daycare because his family needed to be well cared for and protected. Jabari looked up to his uncle Rob as a mentor and role model for working hard and setting the standards on working hard and not being lazy, looking for an easy way out, to work for what he wanted. As a lyricist, Bari jokingly said, "his next hit would be about making money as a babysitter for uncle Robo-fella, not Rockafella." He was well taken care of during his tender years by his Uncle Kenneth Terry and Aunt Nikki.

Jabari managed many titles. He was a son, a friend, and most of all, an older brother his sisters reminisced of fond times. Cheyenne recalled how she always looked up to her brother; he taught her how to fight, take up for herself and do what felt right, giving her lectures when she made bad decisions which helped her to make better ones moving onward. She said she bit Bari when they were younger. He screamed and got upset but knew she didn't know any better. Alaysia recalled typical sibling rivalry when they would get in trouble with their father for taking the mattress off to create a ring to fight each other.

Recalling a time when Bari had gotten off the phone with his uncle Everette, he ran upstairs and packed a bag. He was so excited to get to know his father, Erik's side of the family. He cherished his Grandfather Wink, who affectionately referred to him as pop pop''s pootie tang. It was a blessing to spend time with his international family from Jamaica to Africa. He furthered his culture through traditional meals and butchering the language by trying to mimic their accents.

Jabari will be greatly missed by his mother, Crystal Edmonds-McNeely-Scott; his biological father, Erik McNeely (Ta-Tanisha); and his father, Tracy Scott. His sisters Alaysia and Cheyenne McNeely, Nondie Custis (nephew Aiden Michael Custis), his older brother Michael Johnson-Henry, his Jamaican brother Derwin Garrick, and his little brother Trayvon Scott, whom he affectionately nicknamed "Tray," his little protege. His most trusted advisor, representative, and best friend was Grandma Kelly. Grandma Debbie would sing him to sleep, Grandma Cynthia made his blankets to keep him warm, Grandma Camen always sneaked him a little pocket change, and Grandma Fannie always made him blueberry dumplings. Two great-grandmothers, a great-great-grandmother, and two grandfathers, Robert Edmonds, who called him the professor, and Kevin Duncan, that was his twin. Jabari was blessed with a herd that included so many uncles, aunts, cousins, friends, and extended relatives too many to name or count.