Marlon Wayans, Family members pay tribute to patriarch Howell Wayans – The Hollywood Reporter

The Wayans family took to social media to pay their respects to the patriarch of their family, Howell Wayans, who has passed away aged 86.

Marlon Wayans, one of 10 children of the patriarch, shared an emotional message on his Instagram, saying goodbye to his father.

“Legendary,” he wrote in the caption. “When I was a kid, I asked my dad what do you want to be when you grow up? He simply said ‘I want to be a man.’ I said ‘not a lawyer? A doctor? An actor?’ He said ‘just a man.’ I said ‘but every boy becomes a man.’ Dad said ‘Not true.’ I asked ‘then what is a man?’ My dad said ‘A man takes care of himself and his responsibilities. His family is always FIRST.’ From that day on, I want to be a MAN.

He then thanked his father for setting an example for his sons. “I pray all black boys grow up to be a Man like you. The boy loves you, he continued. “And if I need you, I know exactly where to find you…in my Bible lying in bed. Good rest. Kiss Ma for me. Tell her her children miss her. I have two angels. I feel like you all have lifted me up already. If there’s a heaven, I know you’re sitting in a VIP sipping the best wine Jesus could make…”

“My heart is heavy,” wrote Deidra Wayans. “I thank God for giving us so many years of love, memories and wonderful parents. The kind that never give up their children. I know I am a man of few words but thanks to your love, discipline and devotion, I have become an extraordinary woman just like you.”

Craig Wayans also paid tribute to Howell Wayans, saying, “he has a strong foothold beside Jehovah,” who has “gained another strong soldier.”

Elvira, the matriarch of the family, died in July 2020 at the age of 81. Marlon and Deidra had eight other siblings, including Dwayne, Keenen Ivory, Damon, Kimberly, Elvira, Nadia, Devonne Chaunté and Shawn.