Hajji Abdul Rasheed Ali's Obituary
RememberingHajji Abdul Rasheed Ali, 73 was born in Kansas City, Missouri on April 5, 1946 to the late Floyd R. Jackson and Dora D. Jackson his mother, who passed from this life on May 29, 2019 at age 102.The family migrated to Omaha, Nebraska in 1957 where Rasheed grew up, attended school and as a young teen worked for Sears and Roebucks Co. In 1974 Ali changed locations and moved to Oakland, California where he remained until his death. He worked for Oakland Scavenger/Waste Management and retired after 30 years of service. Rasheed was known and is still remembered as one of the best and hardest working employees, often out performing men half his age and size.Also in 1974 Ali converted to Al-Islam and became a member of the Masjidul Waritheen Community of Oakland, CA where he remained committed and active for 45 years. He fulfilled the required once in a lifetime Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca in 2001. He spearheaded the Clara Mohammad School Beat Masters Drum Core, teaching, inspiring and mentoring generations of young students. Under his leadership the Beat Masters won many drum and parade competitions throughout the Oakland San Francisco Bay Area. As a founding member of the Masjidul Waritheen’s Shahadatain Institute (which provided a comprehensive eight-week course for new converts to Al-Islam) he taught Islamic history helping the students gain an understanding of the foundations and traditions of Al-Islam. He loved Allah and Al-Islam and studied Arabic grammar avidly. He enjoyed sharing what he knew with anyone wanting to listen and learn from ages 5 to.95.He was a self-taught musician and master drummer also playing the tuba and piano. He taught music classes to students in the Oakland Unified school District and performed in several bay area bands, and for 15 years was the leader and mentor of Isis Rising, a women’s drumming circle.He is survived by his sister Francis Ann Griffin, Aunt Lula Moran (age 100) both of Omaha, Nebraska, wife Brenda Ricks Ali, Children: Tresia Jabbaar, Kareem Jabbaar, Khadijah Ali, Grandchildren: Shamsiddin Ali, Tyesha Holt and husband Mario Holt, Ahmad Jabbaar, Makail Jabbaar, Tariq Jabbaar, Tamani Jabbaar; Great-grandson: Mario Holt, Jr.; Nieces: Tanya Arthur, Dawn Hogan, Billie Jo Adams and nephew Darnell Griffin, and a host of cousins and friends.
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