"Forever Our Spider-Man": Friends and Family Honor Slain 4-Year-Old at Funeral

A Last Farewell at the Spiderman Playground

On the afternoon of Saturday, July 12, Samir Grubbs returned to his “Spiderman playground” one last time as his funeral procession paused in front of the park where he loved to play. The 4-year-old, who was tragically killed in a drive-by shooting on June 27 at Skinner Park while playing at the playground, often went with his mother, running around and pretending to be Spiderman.

With the support of the Detroit Police Department and Detroit Public Safety Department, Samir’s mother, Jasmine Grubbs, of Detroit, stopped the procession momentarily and held his repast at the park. Her goal was to show the community that it should be a place where kids feel safe to play.

“So many kids are scared to go to the park now; they’re scared to go outside and play,” said Grubbs. “My main thing was to bring all of them together and do what my son loved to do, which is play. No kid should be scared to go to the park. The park is not the enemy.”

A Celebration of Life

The funeral repast featured an array of tribute items, including three bounce houses, a Thomas the Tank Engine train ride, and customized cupcakes and chips with Samir’s face on them. Except for the Thomas the Tank Engine, the entire celebration was Spiderman-themed in honor of Samir’s beloved superhero. People who had never met Samir or his family donated goodies, tablecloths, food, and decorations, including backdrops of blown-up photos of Samir’s smiling face, to the event.

Grubbs’ cousin, Tristan Shannon, 35, whose 4-year-old daughter, Talyn, was one of the last to have a playdate with Samir, said that as a city of Detroit employee, she had never seen anything like it before. “To see the city pull together like this to back my cousin, it makes me very happy to be a city employee. I’ve seen the city rally behind people — I’ve never seen it like this. This is phenomenal.”

Community Support and Memories

Samir’s mother, too, was moved by the outpouring of support. Multiple state and local agencies came together to cover the costs of the funeral, cremation, and repast for the family. “For everybody to take absolute care about his name, about his memory, like the Detroiters do and the chief and the police department. I’m just overwhelmed,” Grubbs said. “I’m sad that he’s not here, but I’m grateful for everyone holding me up.”

The repast was attended by dozens of Samir’s aunts, uncles, friends, and cousins, none of whom could tell a story about Samir without laughing at the memory of the funny, bubbly boy.

Stories from Family Members

Samir’s uncle, Antonio Shannon, 42, who lives in Arizona, often spoke to Samir when he would video call his mom, Samir’s grandmother. Samir would always be in the background on the other end, pestering her about who was on the phone. “It’s uncle Tony!” Antonio would yell from the other side of the screen. Immediately, he said, Samir would jump into frame, stick out his arm, and pretend to “web” Antonio on the other side.

“I’d tell him, ‘OK, I’m going to get you when I come to the city,’" said Antonio, laughing a little at the memory, before pausing with a sigh. “It’s hurting. Now when I call, it’s silent in the background. I don’t hear him running around.”

Another cousin, Kai El, who said she was listed in the obituary as Samir’s "bonus mom," described Samir as a mischievous kid, and “such a happy baby” who was “always laughing and smiling.”

Samir’s dad, Stanley Grubbs, who lives in Alabama, described Samir as having a mind of his own. He said he and Samir loved to poke fun at each other, calling each other silly names on the phone. Like many other relatives, Stanley said Samir was the one in charge, getting his dad to push him around in a stroller even when he could walk on his own. The last time the two called, Stanley says Samir told him he was going to come visit him in Alabama.

“Even though he was the baby, he always thought he was the oldest,” Stanley Grubbs said with a smile. “If he wanted something big, he’d get his older brother and pull him, saying 'come on, come on, come on.' He will be missed.”

A Message of Peace and Joy

As she continues to grieve, Jasmine Grubbs hopes that the park can bring the same peace to the rest of the community that it does to her. “The park to me represents peace, joy, just an overall sense of ‘kid-liness,’ she said. “It represents a lot of peace for me. Some people think I’m sad when I’m here, but I’m not. I just come here because my son’s spirit’s here. And I want everyone to experience that peace and that joy that he had.”

“Samir’s always been the one that brings everybody together,” said his mom, gesturing to the crowds gathering in front of the playground. “And so, he did it again.”