Lezley McSpadden, Michael Brown's Mother, Graduated High School

On Friday, May 26,Deja Brown graduated from Jennings High School in Jennings, Missouri.

Standing right next to her, getting her diploma as well, was her mother, Lezley McSpadden, who most know as the mother of Michael Brown, the unarmed teenfatally shot by Ferguson police in 2014.

McSpadden gave birth to her son Michael in 1996, when she was still in high school. Because of the responsibilities that come with having a child, she was not able to get her diploma. That is until now, more than 20 years later.

This was all due to a new adult high school program at the school. According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, The program started when McSpadden sat down with Jennings Superintendent Art McCoy, to talk about her nonprofitMichael O.D. Brown We Love Our Sons and Daughters Foundation.During their conversation, McSpaden mentioned that she was never able tofinish school.

McCoy responded by saying:

What better way is it to honor your son than to get the degree he got?

McSpaddenand another adult started the program in September and the two would meet for a couple of weeks every week. While she attended the same school as Deja, the two would rarely interact because their schedules were different.Deja,who will attend Tennessee State University this fall, spoke about her mother's accomplishmentto reporters:

"I know its something that shes wanted to do. Shes done it and shes worked really hard, and shes so excited and Im excited for her!

Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch