Block Love Honors Beloved Neighbor Found Dead in Uptown Jail

On Aug. 31, the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) put out a press release announcing that an unnamed 62-year-old Black man had died while incarcerated at the Mecklenburg County Detention Center in Uptown.

“I have the unfortunate duty of announcing the death of a resident within our facility,” Sheriff Garry McFadden said in the press release. “A loss of life is never easy, and once we can notify their family, we will extend our deepest sympathies to them during this difficult time.”

An update from the department unveiled that MCSO staff had discovered the man while carrying out routine breakfast-time checks. They added that the man had been classified as unhoused when he was arrested in June and that the department would not be releasing his name because staff could not identify any next of kin to notify first. 

Terry Antonio Howard, however, had no shortage of family. That was clear on Sunday when dozens of folks gathered at the Block Love Charlotte Day Services Center to celebrate his life, serving food in his honor and releasing black and yellow balloons as a nod to his favorite football team. 

Because of Block Love Charlotte’s relationship with MCSO and McFadden’s personal familiarity with Howard, the sheriff went to deliver the tragic news to Philips directly.

”My heart is eased knowing he didn’t die on the street,” Philips said. “But then it’s still heartbroken because he died in jail where he could have been aided, could have been helped.”

Though Philips doesn’t know the circumstances surrounding Howard’s death as requests for his health information are protected by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), she questions how often he was checked on and how long he had been unresponsive in his cell.

Philips’ questions are not to place blame for Howard’s death on MCSO, she told Queen City Nerve, but come from a place of caring and a need for transparency. 

”He was family to me,” she said. “And I believe anybody else that would have a family member to die in jail would have those same questions.”

The State Bureau of Investigation is conducting an in-custody death investigation as the medical examiner determines the cause of death, MCSO said.

“My heart breaks to know that that’s how he died and if it wasn’t for me knowing him, would anybody even take concern … anybody in this community, anybody in this city, would they have even cared?” Philips questioned. “Would they have just looked at it as another homeless person that died in jail or just another homeless person died period?”

More than an unnamed man

Born April 4, 1963, Howard was the self-appointed security guard for Block Love Charlotte’s annual sleep-outs. According to Block Love founder Deborah Phillips, Howard would show up for the people in his life whenever they needed him and, no matter how aggravating he could be, no one could ever stay mad at him. 

As a local nonprofit organization providing restoration, resources, education and essential tools to those facing homelessness and hardships in the community, the team at Block Love Charlotte has experienced loss among their extended family before, but this one hit especially hard, said Phillips.

The founder said she met Howard in late spring 2018 when she was serving dinner at “The Wall” in Uptown Charlotte. Philips thought Howard had copped an attitude with her but quickly realized that was just his way of jokingly testing the waters with her. 

Read more: Charlotte’s Homeless Search for Help as Services Dry Up (2020)

It was cold that day and Philips gave Howard her brand new Nautical jacket. Two days later, she ran into Howard again on her way to work — this time, without the jacket. When Philips questioned where the jacket went, Howard told her he had sold it for a beer.

”That’s how the relationship began,” Philips recalled, laughing. “It literally grew into something just beautiful, amazing. I had so much love for him.”

Every Sunday morning at 8:30 a.m., Block Love Charlotte distributes donated supplies at “The Block,” the nickname for the stretch of Montford Point in front of the VAPA Center where The Wall is located and where Phillips began serving dinner every night in 2018. 

Howard would show up early to help set up tables. Philips said his favorite job was to go down the line of folks to dispense hand sanitizer — though they would have to reel him back in when he’d wander off halfway through the line to talk with people across the street, Philips said.

In 2022, she received a call from the hospital informing her that Howard had been stabbed and probably wouldn’t make it. She went to visit and pray over Howard throughout the month that he spent in the hospital, promising that if Howard made it through this, she would talk with him about his salvation.

When Howard finally woke up, the first thing he asked about was the $5 he had on him when he attacked.

”You’ve been out for about a month and [you] remember five freaking dollars?” Philips recalled. The nurse had taped the $5 bill to the white board in his room.

Sticking to her promise, Philips and Howard discussed his faith. He hadn’t believed in God before he was stabbed because he felt as though whatever God did exist had forgotten about or given up on him. 

When he woke up, Howard believed that God had saved him, and that became his testimony, Philips said.

In the time since, Howard began showing up more often for Block Love Charlotte and its partners, including Saturday Sharing, a community-driven initiative launched by regular Block Love volunteer Terri Newton Karem. 

Read more: Block Love Charlotte Expands Offerings with New Day Services Center (2023)

Howard’s relationship with Philips and Karem grew so deep that he regularly referred to the two younger women as “Mama” despite the fact that they’re both younger than him.  

“Antonio was that light that we needed,” Philips said. “He was that light in the world of a dark, homeless situation.”

That light helped bring about Block Love Charlotte’s inaugural Not So Gala last October, an event inspired by Howard’s laidback, fun-loving nature, meant to be a place for the community to relax and recognize what the organization stood for. 

“I never want to be in a space or place where my neighbors can’t come and celebrate with us, and so that was huge to make it the Not So Gala,” Philips said. “It was what it was meant to be. He felt comfortable in that space and he was the vision behind our gala.”

That night he was honored with the first ever Heart of the Block Award. He walked through the venue like he was king for a day, Philips said, and when it was over he gave Philips his award to store at the Day Services Center.

“He said ‘You keep it here … you keep it safe because I’m never going to have anywhere to put it,’” recalled Philips, who still has the red-and-gold plaque. 

Philips will always remember Howard this way: “…sitting there, smiling with that toothless grin, ready to greet us for our morning. And that’s life with him. He danced whenever we had music. He laughed when we laughed. He cried when we cried.

“That is the love and light that I want people to know and understand, that just because someone is homeless or houseless, it does not mean they lack personality,” she continued. “They’re full of joy and some people are just at peace with where they’re at.”

Howard was a shining light among the Block Love Charlotte family because he represented everything that the organization represents, Philips said. He showed love and received love back. He made meaningful connections in his community that lasted and made an impact on everyone he encountered. 

“That man spread love well beyond the block,” Philips said. “His footprint spans all across the city and we are so very grateful that he touched our lives. That’s what I want people to know.”