Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Matthew 5:4

On Monday, February 6, 2017, God called home one of his angels, Mr. Na’eem Akmal Whitfield, of 42 North Burch Street, Petersburg, Virginia. Na’eem was born to Barbara Whitfield and Charles Allen on October 27, 1980. He was born with a football in his hand. Na’eem played football all throughout Petersburg. He was a graduate of the Petersburg High School Class of 2000 and was a standout football player. Na’eem furthered his football career at St. Paul’s College in Lawrenceville, Virginia.

The joy of Na’eem’s life was his beautiful daughter Zayhkeria Whitfield. Na’eem touched everyone he met in a special way. He claimed everyone to be his family, especially his brother from another mother, T’ron Richardson.

Na’eem was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Ida and Raymond Allen, Sr; maternal grandparents, Robert and Dorothy Branch and Mary Ellen Branch; uncles, Ricky Watford and Robert Lee Allen; aunts, Dorothy Mae Branch and Ernestine Pinkey; and brother,Lamont Gordon.

Na’eem leaves to cherish his memories, daughter, Zayhkeria Whitfield; mother, Barbara Whitfield; father, Charles Allen (Mary); devoted step mother, Carolyn Jones; grandmother, Willie Jane Branch; brothers, Ricky, Alphonso and Demonta Whitfield and Chris Jarrett; sisters, Kierra Gordon, Shiketa Mason, of Petersburg , Virginia; aunts, Zykiyyah Muhammad (Nazeeh) of Ellenwood, Georgia, Michelle Moore (Kenny) of Baltimore, Md., Janet Wilson, Cynthia Battle (David), Lisa Allen, Barbara Baker, Shirley Ruffin (Reginald), Louise Evans, Alice Vinson, Arlene Fisher, Anita and Sharon Branch, Katina Curry (Colden) of Petersburg, Virginia; great aunt, Willie Ann Tucker of Dinwiddie, Virginia; uncles, Marlon Whitfield (Tammy) of Stone Mountain, Georgia, Anthony Whitfield (Michelle) of Decatur, Georgia, Raymond Allen, Jr, (Audrey), Ricky Allen (Paula) and great uncle, James Dailey of Dinwiddie, Virginia, Norman and Clarence Watford, Roland and Jimmy Whitfield, James, Kenneth (Monique), Maurice (Lewanda), Timothy (Tracey) Allen; devoted godmothers, Sonja Bland of Chesterfield and Joyce Sidney of Petersburg, Virginia; devoted cousins, Patrice Branch, Temperance Vinson, Shaun, Antonio, Shanta, Taquisha, and Doniel Allen of Petersburg, Virginia; devoted friends, LaKisha Embery, Shaquan Nicholas, Dajuan Coleman, and Kiara Allen of Chesterfield, Virginia, and Valencia Walden of Hopewell; and a host of loving cousins and other relatives of the Allen and Whitfield Family. Na’eem will be truly missed by his fifth ward family and friends.

A public viewing will be held on Thursday, February 16, 2017 from 7:00pm to 8:00pm and on Friday, February 17, 2017 from 9:00am to 8:00pm at the J. L. Dodson and Sons Funeral Establishment.

A funeral service for Na’eem A. Whitfield will be held at 2:30pm on Saturday, February 18, 2017, at the Trinity Missionary Baptist Church of God In Christ, 233 Halifax Street, Petersburg, Virginia with Rev. Jeffrey L. Dodson, Sr., Pastor, Officiating, Elder Wesley Nicholas, Eulogizing. Interment will follow in the Blandford Cemetery, Petersburg, Virginia.

Family and friends are asked to assemble at the residence at 1:30 pm on the day of the service.

Professional funeral services entrusted to the staff of the J. L. Dodson and Sons Funeral Establishment 25824 Greensville Ave. Petersburg , Va. 23803, Rev. Jeffrey L. Dodson, Sr.,Funeral Director, (804)732-5959 and (834)3330. Online condolences may be registered at www.jldodsonandsons.com.