Gilbert Ray Bush, Jr

Gilbert Ray Bush Jr. also known as Fard Ali, 29, passed tragically after being senselessly and brutally gunned down in downtown St. Petersburg, Florida on October 2, 2021. He was the most brilliant, dedicated, ambitious, talented, studious, disciplined, thoughtful, loyal, and determined man of God a person could hope to meet in this world. He was an incredible and immensely talented basketball player throughout high school and college and wore the number “23” with pride and majesty. He looked up to Michael Jordan and Allen Iverson as basketball legends.

 He transitioned seamlessly from basketball to boxing in his mid-twenties; his discipline was unmatched – he ran ten miles a day, lived a clean and sober life, and trained extremely hard with his coach at his boxing gym daily. He studied Muhammad Ali and Floyd Mayweather, which was evident in his boxing style- a style that was set to make him rich and famous- as his talent and dedication was undeniable.

He loved his family very much- more particularly his granny, parents, wife, siblings, and all his boys from his hometown of Chicago, Illinois. He had a pure heart and the spirit of God inwardly and outwardly. He spent his time reading God’s word, be it the Quran or Bible, and elevated constantly as he was a master student of this life. He was continuously evolving and learning and understood life so deeply.

 He had the most beautiful soul. He will shine forever, like the stars and the moon in the night sky, and his spirit will forever surround us, like the oxygen in grass and trees. The pain of losing him will never subside- he will be forever missed, loved, and adored. His legacy will live on forever through his family and the many lives he luminously affected. May he rest peacefully in eternal paradise, as only the good die young.               

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