Kofi, (awest African namefor sonbornonFriday), came into this worldApril 4, 1975. He wasborntoparents VanderbiltandYvette Bogan.

Koficrawled at 4 monthsandhis first words after saying "Dada",were "He hit me"at 8months. The"he"washis older brother,Ako.Thoughthesibling jabs wouldcontinue,Kofilearnedtobetter understand his big brotherand was thankful for thesupporthereceivedfrom Ako.His sister, Malaika, entertainedhim with herconstant teasingandjoke-telling.Heenjoyed hanging outwith his"big" little brother, Donnell, riding around,andlisteningtomusic.

Kofi wasvery athletic. Through the YMCA and a communitygroup called Applied Youth Development(AYD), Kofi playedflagfootballandhisfavorite sport- soccer. His position was goalieandwhenhe was infront ofthe net, scoring wasnearly impossible. Every Saturday,Kofiwould jump out of bedand clean his uniform,sothathecouldgo tothe "Y"and playsoccer.Kofi was also in the marching band at AYD.

Kofi attended WileyandBessemer Elementary schoolsinNorth Carolina,and then Calverton Middle SchoolandCity CollegeHighSchool, Baltimore.Kofi did not like schoolanddropped outin theninthgrade. Helater earned hisGED.

A member ofthe armedservices,Kofi was inboththearmyand the MDState NationalGuard. Oncedischarged, Kofi'swork lifeincluded construction,and house painting,as anindependent contractor.When hepainted a house, itwas showcase ready.Hestopped workingwhenhis illness interferedwithhis productivity.

Kofilovedto cook for family and friends. Heattendedfamilygatherings wheneverhe could,whetherit wasawedding, cook out,hospital visitorfootball/birthday party.Kofi thoroughlyenjoyed the times he spent withhis daughter,Tara. He always didsomethingto keep the family laughing. Hismantraforlifewas"no fool, nofun."He was an avid Ravens fan. Heenjoyed playinggameswith Aaliyah and Royalty,Jessica'sdaughters.

Kofi wasdiagnosedasbi-polarin the early2000's.Asa result,he hadseveral hospitalizations. Buteach time he wasdischarged,heralliedandjumpedwhole-heartedly backintohislife witha passion.

Kofi loved to fish and to showhis nephews- Donald, Derrel,Karon, Jacob and godnieces-Daysia and Fatima how to fish. The family took several trips to Piney RunParkinCarrol County.Kofi would fishwiththekidsandhis sisterMalaika, and theother adults preparedthe food.

Kofienjoyed musicanddancing.Someof his favorite songswere"StayUp" by G-Dep,"Jingling Baby"by L.L. CoolJandKirk Franklin's "Stomp." Kofi's exampleshowedeveryone aroundhimnottotake lifetooseriously,no matter the difficulties they werefacing.

Someyearsago, Kofiaccepted Jesus ChristashisLord and Savior. He began·making changesinhis life, becoming a more mellow, gentleperson. Kofi ministered toothers, helpingthem andadvocatingfor them inlegaland social situations. Kofi hadstarted thisasa teenager, secretly takingfood from the house and givingit to hungry children in the neighborhood. For a period of time, Kofi would stopby his nieceMarkita'shouse andwalk his great nephews,Karon andJacob,to school. Hehelped hisfiance,Jessica, by teaching herhow to change her breathing topreventpanicattacks. KofiandJessicawereplanningtomarryin May.

After a period of transition, Kofiwasabletosecureanapartmentwhich he maintained until hisdeath.