“My mom's legacy was trashed” family says after body found in garage with mechanic

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She was like a second mom to kids around here,'' said her daughter, Shaquayah Hargrave, 23. "She made sure everyone was safe.''

This is the Tameka Hargrave that family and friends know. She's not the woman, whose name they believe has been tarnished in reports surrounding her tragic death Monday night.

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According to a source, Hargrave and a 56-year-old mechanic died of possible carbon monoxide poisoning while having sex in a running car inside a closed garage at the apartment complex.

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That person that put that out there is just trying to tarnish her name and I don't want that to be the last thing people read about her,'' said December Thomas, her childhood friend, who lives in New York.

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"She shouldn't be known as the girl who died in the garage. That's not who she was.''

Kahali Johnson, who was not married to Hargrave, said he is "livid'' about the information that has been put out there over his long-time companion of 13 years. Authorities said he discovered the two in the car.

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They shouted her name, "Tameka," then released the balloons. As the balloons drifted away, the crowd clapped for Tameka, showering their memory of her with applause. Music from Beyonce was playing, too. The song, titled "Heaven," captured the tender moment.

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