Zenobia Dobson—this is the mother we should be talking about instead of “affluenza” mom.
Zenobia Dobson buried her 15-year-old son with the kind of dignity we all pray for in a time of devastating tragedy.
The week before Christmas Eve, her son Zaevion Dobson, a football player and mentor at Fulton High School in Knoxville, Tennessee, jumped on top of three girls to shield them from a spray of bullets shot by gang members. The girls survived; Zaevion did not.
Ms. Dobson spoke about his actions and finding optimism despite "her baby's" death.
"It was an honor for my son to protect another individual," Dobson told CBS News.
That's the kind of mother Zaevion Dobson was privileged to have—a mother who instilled in her son a level of character that would cause him to unthinkingly shield innocents from danger, giving his own life in the process.
While “affluenza” mom was raising a spoiled, irresponsible killer, Zenobia Dobson was raising a hero.
Knoxville Police Chief David Rausch said this about Zaevion’s sacrifice: "I have a military background, that's the actions of heroes."
The teen's coach, Rob Black, said the sophomore was well liked by teachers and students at Fulton.
"This is a fine, fine young man who is a success story," he said. "And I want to try to continue to celebrate the life that he had here and the impact that he made on his peers," Black said.
A GoFundMe account set up to cover funeral expenses surpassed its goal of $60,000. An update on the page states that all remaining donations will be used to create a memorial in Zaevion’s honor.
Thank you, Ms. Dobson, for raising a young man with valiant character.
#LongLiveZae
#ZaevionIsAHero
#WouldUBeThatBrave
Featured Image: Zenobia Dobson and her sons (Photo/CBS News)