‘He was a mentor and a brother’
Portsmouth man killed in crash had a major impact on community
A Portsmouth charity is reeling after a vital team member died in an auto accident last week.
Brian Credle volunteered at HOPE Charitable Services as a youth mentor, helping struggling inner-city communities and using his own hardships and experiences to connect.
Credle, 37, was one of two men who died in a two-vehicle wreck at the intersection of Frederick and Deep Creek boulevards Tuesday evening. Michael Piovane, 35, also died in the crash. Two other people, a man and a woman, were injured.
“If moms or grandmothers were afraid their young men had a gun and were going to do something crazy, they would call me and I would send Brian,” said Pastor Frank Allen, who described Credle as a brother, father, minister and mentor. “Brian would go get those young men — wherever they were, whatever they were doing. He would talk them through wherever they were at mentally.”
Allen met Credle about 30 years ago when Credle attended summer camp at Allen’s faith-based grassroots organization. Through the years, Credle at times leaned on HOPE Charitable Services for help, Allen said.
“He had his own set of struggles,” Allen said, explaining that Credle had been involved with drug dealers, hustling in Portsmouth’s inner-city communities. “We welcomed him into my family home and HOPE House many times before he found his way.”
Eventually, Credle went from leaning on HOPE to supporting the organization, serving as a youth and young adult mentor for the Urban Outreach Program. Credle worked for the past 18 months to steer hundreds of at-risk boys and men away from the streets where he grew up.
Credle, who struggled with his
own mental health issues, would seek out troubled young adults and bring them to HOPE to connect with ministers and social workers who could better support them. He worked alongside young people on community service projects — tending the community garden, working in soup kitchens, distributing food and furniture donations.
“It was like Brian had a sixth sense, he could feel when someone was struggling bad,” Allen said.
Keisha Hodges witnessed Credle’s effect as he worked with her four sons, ages 19, 15, 13 and 10.
“Brother Brian took time with my boys. He kept them out of trouble. They learned respect and how to work together without fussing and fighting,” Hodges said. “They were working, but they were always laughing and joking, having a good time with Brother Brian.”
Hodges said her sons frequently worked in the community garden with Credle and Allen. When the seasons changed, Credle kept her boys busy moving furniture and distributing necessities to those in need.
“When it was real cold, they would go give to the homeless — toothbrushes, blankets, socks — but they were happy to be out helping Brother Brian,” Hodges said. “My boys will be better men because of him.”
Teddy Harris, a HOPE volunteer, said he’s still struggling with the news. Harris said when he was homeless, Credle became a “strong support,” making sure he had transportation to work and appointments. The pair communicated every day, at least sending a text to check on each other.
“It is crazy his life was cut short. I am thinking I am about to call him but then I realize I can’t,” Harris said. “He was a mentor and a brother. Anything that was going on, I could just unload and he listened.”
Kelly Williams, a social worker for HOPE, called Credle’s impact immeasurable and lamented his loss, saying Credle had “finally found his calling in life.”
“He just understood people where they were at — whether they were an unruly teenager or a 57-year-old homeless man. He understood them,” Williams said.