Connect with us

Detroit, MI

A ‘great’ Detroit father’s final wish gets granted — as helicopter drops money and rose petals from the sky

Published

on

A ‘great’ Detroit father’s final wish gets granted — as helicopter drops money and rose petals from the sky


Making it rain one last time.

A Detroit man’s dying wish to have thousands of dollars fall from the sky by helicopter as his “last blessing” to his community was honored by his family last month.

Darrell “Plant” Thomas, a 58-year-old car wash owner in East Detroit known for his generosity, died after a battle with Alzheimer’s on June 15, and wanted to have a dramatic send–off.

Darrell “Plant” Thomas’ dying wish was to have thousands of dollars fall from the sky by helicopter at his funeral. Crystal Perry

At his funeral on June 27, his sons organized a helicopter to drop $5,000 and rose petals on unsuspecting mourners as they honored their father at the event held on Gratiot Avenue and Connor Street.

Advertisement

“This was a final expression of love from him to the community because he was a giver,” Thomas’s niece, Crystal Perry, told the Detroit Free Press.

“Yesterday was simply a farewell tribute to an Eastside legend.”

Footage from the event shows a helicopter hovering in a clear blue sky, while petals and money rain down, causing people to scream with excitement and rush to catch them on the ground.

In other videos, people are seen happily scooping up bills from the street, bending down to grab handfuls of cash as it floated across the pavement.

Advertisement
At his funeral on June 27, his sons organized a helicopter to drop $5,000 and rose petals on unsuspecting mourners as they honored their father at the event held on Gratiot Avenue and Connor Street. Crystal Perry/Facebook

Traffic along the six-lane road of Gratiot Avenue came to a standstill for several minutes as funeral goers and onlookers rushed to grab some of the cash.

However, instead of turning into mayhem with people trying to fill their pockets, the crowd remained calm as they went for the money.

“Everybody got a little bit,” Lisa Knife, an employee at the nearby Airport Express Lube & Service, told the Detroit News of the surreal scene.

People are seen happily scooping up bills from the street, bending down to grab handfuls of cash as it floated across the pavement. Crystal Perry/Facebook

Knife said she didn’t rush to grab the money, but took the moment to admire how the gesture brought members of the Motor City community together.

“There was no fighting, none of that. It was really beautiful,” Knife said.

Advertisement

One of Thomas’s sons, Dante — better known as “Smoke” — told Fox 2 Detroit that he added some of his own cash and that the gesture was the least they could do to honor a man so beloved in his community.

Instead of turning into mayhem with people trying to fill their pockets, the crowd remained calm as they went for the money. Crystal Perry/Facebook

“Detroit, y’all might not know who my father was, but he was a great father,” Smoke said.

“Among his community he was a legend, and he blessed everyone and that was his last blessing to everyone. That’s all it was. Many blessings to everyone and long live Plant. Long live Plant that’s it.”

The Detroit Police Department briefly closed off traffic to allow the crowd to enjoy Thomas’s final send-off safely. They were aware of the rose petals — but said they were surprised by the money.

Police said they are not investigating the incident. However, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has launched an investigation.

Advertisement

Thomas owned Showroom Shine Express, a business he poured his heart into for decades, and was known to many as a passionate professional race car driver with the National Hot Rod Association.



Source link

Detroit, MI

Metro Detroit church hosts community event to support youth: “We’re here for you”

Published

on

Metro Detroit church hosts community event to support youth: “We’re here for you”



A Metro Detroit church is giving back to the youth. In an age of heightened peer pressures, such as teen takeovers, leaders tell CBS News Detroit that good old-fashioned fun is the way to bring all ages together.

Advertisement

“It’s been a vision of mine and my late husband forever,” said Divine Restoration Ministries Pastor Dr. Tenisia Evans.

Divine Restoration Ministries hosted a Legacy in Action Day on Saturday in the gym of Eastpointe High School in Eastpointe, Michigan. The church says its focus is showing up for communities, especially the future generation.

“So many things going on in the world right now and the youth has been the center of our focus,” said Evans.

Evans says with the help of other church leaders and businesses, including AT&T, they were able to secure food, games and experiences for kids of all ages.

And when it comes to creating an event kids would actually like, Detroit teen Martrail Mullen says they were spot on.

Advertisement

“Kids, we like to move around and still have cardio, and while still having fun at my age, most churches don’t do that,” said Mullen.

Mullen says he has been invited to teen takeovers in the past. While he says he’s never gone to one, he wishes kids would use their time more wisely.

“Kids my age, they are doing a lot of things,” said Mullen.

That’s why Evans says now is the time they open their arms to anyone in need of support.

“We’re here. We’re here for you and we want to pour back and let you know that if you need anything, come to us and we will be here as a resource,” said Evans.

Advertisement



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Detroit, MI

Tigers top Chicago White Sox 4-1; Detroit pitcher Troy Melton allows 1 hit in 6 innings

Published

on

Tigers top Chicago White Sox 4-1; Detroit pitcher Troy Melton allows 1 hit in 6 innings



Troy Melton allowed one hit in six innings and the Detroit Tigers’ offense came alive late in a 4-1 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Saturday.

Dillon Dingler had two hits, including a home run, and drove in two runs as Detroit won its second straight game after losing four of five.

Melton (4-0) gave up a homer to Sam Antonacci on his second pitch of the game but allowed only four more baserunners — on three walks and a hit batter. He struck out five while allowing two or fewer runs for the fourth time in five starts this season.

Advertisement

Two Tigers relievers finished, with Kenley Jansen pitching the ninth for his ninth save.

Sean Newcomb started Chicago’s bullpen game with three perfect innings, but Tyler Davis walked the bases loaded with two out in the fourth. Joe Rock came out of the White Sox bullpen and struck out pinch-hitter Jahmai Jones to loud boos from the Comerica Park crowd.

With a runner on first and two out in the fifth, Kevin McGonigle got Detroit’s first hit of the game — the first hit for either team since Antonacci’s leadoff homer.

Dillon Dingler followed with an RBI single off Rock (0-1) to tie the game.

Detroit took the lead in the sixth when Spencer Torkelson doubled and scored on James Outman’s single. Jake Rogers made it 3-1 later in the inning with an RBI single.

Advertisement

Chicago didn’t get its second hit until Braden Montgomery doubled off Tyler Holton with one out in the seventh.

Dingler hit his 17th homer in the seventh, giving Detroit a 4-1 lead.

Up next

The teams finish the series Sunday in what was originally scheduled to be Justin Verlander’s first start as a Tigers player in Detroit since 2017. His hamstring strain means RHP Keider Montero (3-5, 3.67) will come back from the bullpen to face RHP Davis Martin (9-3, 3.31).



Source link

Continue Reading

Detroit, MI

Today in History: June 20, race-related rioting erupts in Detroit

Published

on

Today in History: June 20, race-related rioting erupts in Detroit


Today is Saturday, June 20, the 171st day of 2026. There are 194 days left in the year.

Today in history:

On June 20, 1943, race-related rioting erupted in Detroit; federal troops were sent in by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to quell the violence that resulted in more than 30 deaths.

Also on this date:

In 1782, the Continental Congress approved the Great Seal of the United States, featuring the emblem of the bald eagle.



Source link

Continue Reading
Advertisement

Trending