Photo by Laua Nwogu/The Atlanta Voice
In a sea of white outfits and fascinators tucked onto their heads, mothers from across the country gathered in Atlanta on Sunday, May 4, to celebrate, grieve, and remember the children they’d lost for Bereaved Mothers’ Day.
The inaugural Kentucky Derby-inspired brunch event was hosted in partnership with The Rocket Foundation, an organization founded by rapper Quavo to end gun violence and honor the life of his nephew Takeoff, the youngest member of their Grammy-nominated rap group Migos, who was murdered in Houston on Nov. 1, 2022. Takeoff’s mother, Titania Davenport, was the brains and heart behind the event.
“It’s three times a year that’s really hard. This is one of the major ones. Takeoff made me a mama,” Davenport said. “I pray that mothers will have a place, like a refuge, where they can get finances to help them grow. They may need spiritual help. They may need mental help. Because it’s all hard, and it’s all combined into one. So I pray that this day will allow them to feel that they can continue to go on and grow.”
With sunglasses on and a bright red lip, Edna Mattox, Takeoff’s grandmother, walked the halls of the Waldorf Astoria Buckhead toward the cocktail hour of the event. Held close to her hip was a Chanel purse in the shape of a rocket. “I always keep my baby with me,” she said.
Takeoff’s younger sister, Heaven, and Quavo were also in attendance. They joined dozens of women as they hoped to form a community of healing and honor in order to alleviate the isolation that comes with losing a child and support mothers affected by gun violence.
Photo by Laura Nwogu/The Atlanta Voice
In the event hall, dotted by pastel flower arrangements provided by Fenty Beauty, a remembrance display was erected with the words “We remember all those lost. Their light lives on in us.”
Lexi Rubio, Michael Smith, Apollo Rucker Rodriquez, Toirei Sanford, Tess Mata, Auriel Callaway, Jackie Cazares, Brice Chambers, Jai’Vanni McDavid, LeKendric Hunter — the names of sons and daughters who had lost their lives and whose pictures were framed on the display.
Tearful mothers gathered around the pictures to take photos with their loved ones. Some held up printed pictures, proud to continue the work of honoring their child. Zanetia Henry smiled as she held up a selfie of her and her son Dre with a pin on her shirt that read “Team Dre.” He was murdered in Waynesboro, Mississippi, in 2019. May 4, the day of the brunch, was Dre’s birthday.
“The favorite memory I have of him today is how much he loved life and how much he lived every single moment to the fullest, and that gives me strength to continue to press forward every day,” Henry said. “When I got the invitation, it was like, Oh, wow. He is telling me, ‘Mom, get up. Don’t lie on the couch and cry today, but go join in with so many other mothers and enjoy life just like I did.’ He would have been 29 years old today, but he’s my forever 22.”
The brunch also included a panel featuring Oresa Napper-Williams, founder of Not Another Child, Inc.; Kimberly Mata-Rubio, president of Lives Robbed; Gin Stanley, executive director of Sweet Hearts, Inc.; and Jordan Murphy, founder and executive director of Girassol Wellness. The women, who personally experienced loss due to gun violence, discussed the community work they’ve been doing to enact change, combat gun violence, and keep the memories of their loved ones alive.
Gregory Jackson Jr., the former Deputy Director of the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention, was recently announced as the first president of the Rocket Foundation. A survivor of gun violence himself, he said he plans to continue the work of investing in community and highlighting solutions that are working and shining a light on the people who are saving lives everyday.
“What they’re going through, while it’s painful, there’s a whole community here that has their back and has been through similar trials, and we’re just stronger together than we are apart. Maybe just every once in a while, there’s a sad night, they’ll remember that there are so many other people there to support them, even if they aren’t physically there with them. And frankly, we want to inspire them to continue to be courageous in speaking out on this issue, pushing for change, because that’s how we fix this,” Jackson said.
The foundation plans to host its second Rocket Foundation summit with Congress members and activists this summer and is currently building a Culture Coalition, which includes influential leaders from across the country who can speak to their local community. Jackson hopes that mothers left the event with a sense of community, hope, and inspiration.
“It’s not a sprint to the finish line, it’s a walk. Sometimes it’s a crawl, and sometimes someone has to pick you up and put you on their shoulders,” Davenport said. “I just pray that this will help mothers be stronger.”