Money and rose petals fell from the sky over Gratiot Avenue near Conner Street in Detroit in honor of Darrell “Plant” Thomas on Friday, June 27.
Thomas passed away on June 15 at 58 years old. His sons Darell and Jonte organized a helicopter to drop $5,000 and rose petals at 1:27 p.m. over Show Room Shine Express, 1041 Gratiot Avenue, Thomas’s niece Crystal Perry, Detroit, said.
“This was a final expression of love from him to the community because he was a giver,” Perry said. “Yesterday was simply a farewell tribute to an Eastside legend.”
Outside of owning Showroom Shine Express, Thomas was a National Hot Rod Association licensed professional race car driver, as well as a brother, father, grandfather and more, according to a recording of his funeral at Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church.
Perry said to know her uncle Plant was to love him.
“He would do anything for anybody,” Perry said. “He just had a different kind of heart. You don’t meet people like that nowadays.”
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Helicopter drops money from sky to honor Detroit man’s last wish
Reporting by Natalie Davies, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
