Akil Mohammed took his final breaths and went home to be with God on February 20^th 2020.  Mr. Mohammed was predeceased by his wife Eva Mae Mohammed as well as all of his siblings whom he missed dearly.  Akil is survived by his four daughters; Rena Korte, Rushon Smitka, Raenu Van Steelandt and Raziah Mohammed.  He is also survived by his three grandchildren; Akil Mohammed Korte, Yasmine Baca and Ashley Van Steelandt as well as seven great grandchildren.

To say that Akil Mohammed’s life was extraordinary is a gross understatement.  Akil was born in Mumbai India in 1928 to parents Tarajan Bibi and Sofath Ullah.  Due to political unrest, the family later migrated to Bangladesh where the Mohammed family grew, thrived and remains well respected in Sylhet.  As a little boy, he wandered deep into the Bangla jungles with a little pet monkey and learned to play the bansuri with impeccable expertise.

As a young man, Akil followed his father into Britain’s Royal Navy to fight with the Allies in the Second World War.  Along with his father and three older brothers, he fought battles in the South Pacific seas with Japanese Zero’s attacking overhead.  He once told me that he would never forget the sound of a Japanese Zero splitting their ship in half while he scrambled to find his brothers amidst the pandemonium.  He saw men in the water being ripped apart by ravenous sharks. 

After surviving the war serving in the British Navy and seeing many exotic places including Australia and the beautiful French Polynesian Islands, Akil landed in San Francisco in 1945 where he decided that he wanted to live the American dream.  Shortly thereafter, he migrated east to Michigan where employment was plentiful for hard working immigrants. 

In Detroit Michigan, he was smitten with Eva Mae Johnson and made her his wife in 1952.  He later became employed at Ford Motor Company.  Akil and his wife settled into family life purchased a home and began living the American dream with their three beautiful daughters.  Later per Islam, Akil took a second wife and had an additional daughter.

Anyone who knew Akil (including neighbors and friends) would tell you, he was a world class gardener.  There was no vegetable or fruit that he couldn’t grow.  Akil was also an exceptional builder.  Not only did he build an addition onto his house by himself but also screened in porches, garages and tool sheds.

He was for all intents and purposes a mechanical engineer and could literally recall automotive components by memory from his experience at Ford Motor.  No one ever had a car repair bill when he was around.

Affectionately known as Dadi to his daughters and Nana to his children and great grandchildren, Akil will be sorely missed every day.  His legacy however will continue to thrive through his descendants and the life that he made in the United States.

Eternal rest grant to him, O Lord; and let light perpetual shine upon him. May his soul, and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.