Photo courtesy of Flint Beat
Oaklin Mixon, the founder of the GoodBoy clothing brand, passed away on Tuesday, Dec. 21, according to the Flint Beat. He died from complications of COVID-19.
Mixon, 38, a business owner and father of five, was considered a pillar of the Flint community, and many expressed their condolences on social media after his death was announced. Friends, family members, and business associates spoke highly of the Michigan resident and the memorable moments they shared with him.
“Oaklin is one of the reasons I moved to Flint,” one post read.
“Without Oaklin Mixon … I wouldn’t be the man I am today,” said another post.
Many thanked Mixon for his impact on the community. “Oaklin saw the man I could be and just let me fly.” “You were bright light. It’s simply not fair. Much much love to you, Oaklin Mixon. This community will miss you.”
Mixon was born in Niagra Falls, New York, in 1983. During his childhood, he moved to Detroit before entering into the foster care system while living in Flint, Mich. He attended Flint Northern High School and met Lev Hunter, a fellow student who would soon become one of Mixon’s closest friends.
“Oak was like a brother to me, honestly. We had a strong brotherhood. We prayed for each other, encouraged one another. We were each other’s listening ear. We bumped heads and through all that still remained friends,” Hunter said.
While navigating adulthood, Mixon worked several jobs in Flint. He later became the founder of his own clothing company located in downtown Flint. However, those closest to Mixon said he never stopped wanting better for himself, his city, and his family., Flint beat reported.
Hunter said Mixon was driven to better himself and outgrow the circumstances he faced during his childhood.
“I think for him, Oaklin’s motivation was being something for himself that he never had. He wanted to be the dad that he never had for his children. When he was married, he wanted to be the husband of his wife that he never saw growing up. So everything for him was about legacy and community. All Oaklin cared about was his kids and his community,” Hunter said.
He added, “Oak was a king of Flint, a father that we all wanted to be like, an entrepreneur we all wanted to be like … he was royalty to us. He was luxury; he was quality. He was love.”
Michari Patterson, a close friend of Mixon, reportedly spoke with him every day leading up to his death and rushed to the hospital to see him during his final minutes.
“He had a New York swag about him. I remember he had on this dope outfit, and I walked up to him and told him his outfit was fresh. He turned around and said, “thank you,” and we have been best friends ever since,” Patterson said.
Erica Sadler, another close friend, said Mixon was dedicated to helping others, including herself.
“We were just two peas in a pod, really. He felt like the older brother I always wanted.… He was just a great friend of my family’s,” she noted. “He worked for my mother at the bank, and he really did become my big brother. He became a mentor to me for my business. That’s when he really began to just pour into my life in an amazing way.”
Mixon leaves behind five children– Keturah, Manoah, Solomon, Selah, and Shiloh.