When Barry Tutt thinks of his daughter, Nylah, he remembers her smile and her easy-going nature. “My daughter was a sweet girl who loved everybody,” shares Barry.
Nylah, who was born with a heart defect and other health complications, lived life to the fullest and brought so much joy to those around her. In September 2023, just as her family was planning her sixteenth birthday party, she died unexpectedly.
In preparation for Nylah turning sixteen, Barry had secretly purchased a Jeep Wrangler to fix up and surprise Nylah with on her birthday. “My daughter used to talk about Jeep Wranglers all the time. Every time we’d see one when we were out driving, she’d tell me that’s what she wanted,” he shares. “So when she turned fifteen, I went ahead and got it for her, but she didn't know about it. I put it in my garage and started working on it, but unfortunately, she was never able to see what I had planned.”
Barry started by finding the new tires and rims he wanted along with having Fast Signs place Nylah’s name, handprint, and logo on the Jeep in her favorite colors of pink and purple. Then, he sought out All About Trucks & Autos to finish transforming the Jeep into the vehicle Nylah always wanted.
“We did a suspension lift kit which raises the Jeep up to accommodate the larger tires he wanted put on,” explains Daniel Morris, owner of All About Trucks & Autos. “We also installed new bumpers. The one on the rear is special because all Jeeps have spare tires on the back, but if you get a certain size tire, the regular tire bracket won't hold it. So we put on a bumper with a tire holder combo to hold the larger tire.”
They also customized the fender liners with upgraded metal, installed a light bar on the front bumper, and fitted the Jeep with a rough country steering stabilizer that makes for smoother handling when driving with big wheels.
Whenever Barry isn’t driving his work truck for his business Forever15 Roadside Service, renamed from B&K Roadside Service in honor of Nylah, he enjoys driving the Jeep around town and keeping the memory of Nylah alive. “I love the Jeep and I love everything they did to it. I never imagined it would look that good. They made sure that they did everything perfectly,” says Barry. “It means a lot to me that I get to drive the Jeep because it’s like she’s with me every day. People in our town know about Nylah’s Jeep and that means the world to me.”
For Daniel and the team at All About Trucks & Autos, being part of projects like this is deeply meaningful. “We have a lot of people who, when their parents or a relative die, want to preserve a vehicle or maybe just upgrade it so they can keep it in the family instead of selling it,” says Daniel. “In this case, Barry wanted to fix up the Jeep in honor of his daughter, Nylah, and it’s such a touching story. When we do a job like this that means so much to a person because of why they're doing it, and they are excited and happy about how it turns out, it’s so fulfilling.”
To connect with All About Trucks and Autos, located at 640 S Old Belair Road, and make your vehicle dreams a reality, visit allabouttrucksllc.com or call 706-855-8768. Also follow @allabouttrucksandautos on Facebook and @allabouttrucksllc on Instagram.
“We have a lot of people who, when their parents or a relative die, want to preserve a vehicle or maybe just upgrade it so they can keep it in the family instead of selling it,” says Daniel. “In this case, Barry wanted to fix up the Jeep in honor of his daughter, Nylah, and it’s such a touching story. When we do a job like this that means so much to a person because of why they're doing it, and they are excited and happy about how it turns out, it’s so fulfilling.”