DJ Terrah tribute set for Bo Diddley Plaza

Local radio personality Akeem Thompson, Sr. known as DJ Terrah, had a goal for Alachua County residents written into his last will and testament.

Thompson died on Aug. 19 from complications of battling the COVID-19 delta variant. Despite getting vaccinated, he was vulnerable to the virus because he was receiving kidney dialysis treatments and had a weakened immune system.

Upper Room Ministries Pastor Karl Anderson, who also serves as the vice president of the Alachua County Christian Pastors Association (ACCPA), said Thompson wanted a health event to happen that would educate the community on COVID-19 and diabetes.

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That event will happen on Saturday from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Bo Diddley Plaza in Gainesville.

The event is sponsored by several organizations and businesses, including Meldon Law, UF Health, Humana Healthy Horizons, the City of Gainesville and goes from 1 to 4 p.m.

Thompson rose to prominence as a young disc jockey on Magic 101.3, Gainesville’s hits and hip hop station. He went on to hold positions at other stations and was vice president of Go Legit Entertainment. 

His final Facebook post was on Aug. 10: 

“I am in the ICU @ UF Health fighting with Covid-19,” he wrote. “Please pray for me. My kids were vaccinated and the vaccine saved their lives. They have no symptoms, been quarantined and have been testing negative… My family is holding down the Pitbulls they safe and good but worried about me. Get vaccinated!”

Fans will have the opportunity to grant Thompson his dying wish on Saturday. Along with live DJ music, open tributes, diabetes information, food and tablet giveaways, health professionals will also be available to administer free COVID-19 testing and vaccinations.

“His wish was to hold a big event featuring COVID-19 testing, vaccinations and diabetes testing,” Anderson said.

Anderson has been active in educating communities and churches in Alachua County on mitigation procedures since the pandemic began, so Saturday’s event will not be his first.

“We developed a protocol for churches, hosted town halls and pastor Q and As,” Anderson said. “We’ve done thousands and thousands of vaccinations in our community.”

Anderson said he has held multiple meetings with experts from UF Health, and the ACCPA has increased efforts to educate local church pastors and congregations about the threat of the delta variant.

Handout for DJ Terrah tribute

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