Reporting by Cesar Canizales

A street named after one of the Central District’s most beloved community members—D’Vonne Pickett Jr. 

It was a dedication to his work and leadership in the community, a life that was extinguished by a bullet last October in front of The Postman, the business he and his wife founded.

The unveiling of the street sign at the corner of 21st Avenue and Union Street was a celebration—but also a highly emotional event.

“I'm so proud. I'm so proud. I just wish my baby was here to celebrate. And for me, my journey is to keep my baby's name alive wherever I can do that. And so that's my fight,” said Nicky Pickett, D’Vonne Pickett Jr.’s mother.

“We have three children. So every morning I see Davon in their face every day I'm reminded that he's still here in his legacy,” said KeAnna Pickett, D’Vonne Pickett Jr.’s widow. “To have a street after their grandfather and their father is inspiration and motivation to keep pushing as a mother.” 

“As you all know, this block, the CD as a whole, played a major role in D’Vonne’s upbringing, who he was and who he is, and where his legacy will continue to go,” said De’Auzjanae Pickett, Pickett Jr.’s sister. “I can just feel my brother right now like, ‘Stop playing! Stop playing’ I know. I could just hear that he's just happy and I'm just glad.”

Pickett Jr.’s maternal grandmother said, “Long live D’Vonne Pickett Jr.! Stop playing!” 

The resolution to rename the street was sponsored by Seattle City Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda, and it was approved unanimously by the council.

“Today is about celebrating life. It's about continuing a legacy, but it's about continuing the commitment to fight for justice against gun violence,” said Mosqueda.

From one of Pickett Jr.’s cousins, a somber reminder for the reason the street was named after D’Vonne.

“I would be remiss to not say that we're here as the result of something tragic.

Gun violence killed my cousin D’Vonne Pickett Senior. Gun violence killed my cousin D’Vonne Pickett Junior,” said Jermaine Williams, D’Vonne Pickett Jr.’s cousin. “I'd be remiss if I didn't say that, and I wouldn't be true and I wouldn't be honest and authentic if I didn't say that. So there's something that has to be done about that.”

Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell spoke about the importance of the community’s role to stop violence in the city.

“We've got to protect our community. Do you understand? We have to protect our community. No mother should have to go through what this mother went through. No wife should have to go through what she went through. No children should have to go through what they went through,” said Harrell, as he pointed to Pickett Jr.’s children.

Pickett Jr.’s widow KeAnna Pickett said the community must look to the future.

“We can't change the past. The past is the past, but every moment we have right now moving forward is what we have choice in, what we have purpose in. Well, we have everything to give for everything that's happened before us,” said Pickett.

Friends and family paid tribute to Pickett Jr.’s selfless leadership and influence, which was felt throughout the community.

“When people were leaving through gentrification and everything else, he stayed. He stayed. And he followed a different way. He fought a different way,” said Monica Pickett-Pittman, Pickett Jr.’s grandmother. “He fought by staying in the community, being involved in the community, keeping his business in the community would have been easy to leave with that type of business. But he stayed.”

Lovell Sykes is a long-time family friend of the Pickett family.

“He just affected people's—impacted people's life. And without even knowing, just being naturally him, you know, saying he led by example. He brought a lot of inner-city folks who would never experience college,” Sykes said. “They followed him, and he was on the baseball team, the basketball team, the volleyball team, you know, folks from all kinds of aspirations. D’Vonne was able to lead by pursuing his dream.

Photos by Seattle photographer Jordan Somers on behalf of Converge Media