On Friday, March 3, 2023 at 8:50 pm on the corner of Mermaid Ave and West 24th St,  Tamika Ashika Richards and her son were crossing over Mermaid when a red pickup truck came speeding down.  She immediately grabbed her son and positioned herself where she would receive the blunt of the hit.  As the reckless driver sped away Tamika's son survived, but she did not.

Tamika was only 41 years old.  She was a single mother of 6 children and one grandson. She was the oldest out of 8 siblings (Shantel Richards, Shareafer Richards, Shaquana Folks, Shavonna Folks, LaShawn Folks, Donald Folks Jr. and Donnell Folks). She also leaves behind her surviving parent, Donald Folks Sr., her stepmother, Debbie Folks, and an array of friends, neighbors, colleagues, and acquaintances. She’s ALWAYS looked out for people in her family, around the neighborhood, and anyone that she came across who needed the helping hand. And she always had her children as her #1 PRIORITY. She was a MOTHER and she never took that title lightly.

Our sister was a FEARLESS spirit, a provider, a protecter....but most of all she was a HERO. And thats why today we ask that the very corner where she last stood, that very corner where she selflessly risked her life, add "Tamika Ashika Richards Way" as a secondary street name. What other way more fitting to honor an act of heroism?