Kenneth C. Whitley

KENNETH CHARLES WHITLEY was born on January 10, 1986; the only chinld of Catherine Whitley. Affectionately known as "Kenny", he was given the nickname "Kenny Bean" by the fellas in his neighborhood because it was discovered that there were two boys with the same first name of Kenny. It stuck with him and he continued to use "Kenny Bean" as the official name of his business. Kenny matriculated in the Baltimore City Public School System. He attended Calloway Elementary School, Pimlico Middle School, Carver Vocational-Technical High School, and later transferred to Edmondson High School where he graduated in June of 2004. He followed in the footsteps of his mother, aunt, and cousin by attending Morgan State University, and graduated in 2009, with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology. "SON" From the very beginning of life, it was Kenny and his mother, Catherine. God knew what she needed and answered her prayers by giving her the desired of her heart in a son. Kenny was so attached to his mother that he would cry when she was not in the room. Playing a dual-parent role has never been an easy task; neither was it a part of God's "Master" Plan. However, through Catherine's faith and dependence on God, along with the support of her family and friends, the foundation was laid to ensure Kenneth's success in life. In appreciation to his mother for her "balancing act," on Mother's Day, Kenny would say, "Happy Mother's Day" and on Father's Day, he would say. "Happy Father's Day." Kenneth loved being with his mother and would often talk about traveling to various places. Last year, the two went on their first cruise to the Bahamas. Kenny felt an awesome responsibility to protect and take care of his mother, which is the very reason he decided to move back home. Anytime he would leave the house, there would be this exchange of words, "Ma, I love you," "Kenny, I love you more,"No, Ma, I love you even more." "SPORTSMAN" From a very young age, it was clear that Kenny would be good in any sport in which he decided to participate. Jason, his cousin, would refer to him as the "true athlete." Although, he loved both basketball and football, Kenny found football to be his passion. At age seven, Kenny stated playing football with the Pop Warner League under Coach Roland Brown. Coach Pete Pompeii, football coach at Edmondson, saw Kenny playing against the Northwest Bulldogs in a summer league game while he was still a student at Pimlico Middle School; both he and Coach Dante J. Jones immediately recognized his skills on the football field. After Kenny started school at Carver, Coach Pompeii contacted Coach Frierson, Carver's football coach, to see if he could recruit Kenny to transfer to Edmondson. Coach Pompeii asked Ms. Whitley's permission to have Kenny transferred to Edmondson High School to join his football team. Kenny and his mother accepted Coach Pompeii's offer and before the school year ended Kenny was headed to Edmondson High School. Kenny played cornerback and was given the number 5 to wear on his jersey. He wore his number and red jersey with pride. "BARBER" Although Kenny majored in Psychology, he desired to cut hair. The notion may have possibly come from his cousin, J. Martin Capeheart, who had been the head barber for the Naval Academy. Before graduation from college, Kenny found a Master Barber who agreed to train him; this was a true blessing! It didn't take long before Kenny mastered his craft of cutting hair. When he was ready to move on his own, his mother bought him his barbering chair. Kenny found it both challenging and quite rewarding to cut the hair of young children. Many mothers would say they could not get their children to sit still, but he could. He had a way with "little" people! After cutting the hair of his "little" clients, he would take their pictures. This practice would make the children and the parents eager to see the end results. In addition to children, Kenny's clients included members of the Ravens Football Team and Harlem Globetrotters. His haircutting skills were becoming well-known. "PHOTOGRAPHER" Kenny's interest in photography also began at a young age. After his mother would buy a new camera, she would give her old one to him. At night, he would find television shows or watch the YouTube channel on the Internet to teach himself how to use a camera and take better pictures. It wasn't long before Kenny started taking pictures for parties, weddings, business promotions, and many other venues where a photographer was needed. He began his photography business, "Kenny Bean" Photography, and things were going well. Although he took pictures of all his barber clients, whenever he wanted to test a new camera or a new technique, his mother would be his model. Kenny was forever thinking of new business ventures and ways to make a positive difference in his community. Considering how business minded he was, we cannot begin to imagine what he would have done if he had majored in a business-related field while in college. Sadly, on June 27, 2019, Kenneth's life ended abruptly by the senselessness of gun violence in the streets of Baltimore City. The lives of all those who knew and loved him will forever be changed by this merciless act. This ray of light in the community went dim. "Weeping may endure for a night, but joy will come in the morning" Kenny leaves to cherish his memory: his loving mother, Catherine Whitley; aunt, Armada W. Grant; cousins, Kimberly M. Hare, Dr. Jason M. Grant, and Andrew N. Hare; godparents, Albert and Ruthie Ruffin; god-brother, Aria Turner; god-sister, Quinett Hodnett; godfather, Rob Davis; a host of best friends including Naphis, Donte, Sean, Martin, Sheldon, and Dominic, who considered him their brother; school friends; clients; colleagues; special friend, Brittney West and her son Nolan; and extended family members. His uncle, Charles Rouhlace and grandmother, Smithie J. Nolan; and extended familymembers He was preceded in death by his uncle, Charles Rouhlac and grandmother, Smithie J. Whitley preceded him in death.

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Kenneth C. Whitley

January 10, 1986 - June 27, 2019