A North Carolina mom dies at graduation just moments before she could watch her daughter walk across the stage at Parkland High School’s ceremony in Winston-Salem.
Winston-Salem teacher assaulted by Parkland High School student identified as social studies teacher
Jean Byrd, originally from Philadelphia, was walking through the parking lot of Joel Coliseum on Friday, May 23, to attend her daughter Meilean’s high school graduation. Tragically, just steps away from the entrance, Byrd collapsed and became unresponsive.
Her son, Marquan Matthews, was at the ceremony and performed CPR on their mother while his sister Meilean walked across the stage inside, unaware of what was unfolding. According to the family’s GoFundMe page, Jean Byrd passed away about an hour later—only 200 feet away from the venue.
WXII reports that after Meilean sat back down, a guidance counselor gently escorted her from the ceremony and was taken to the hospital to be with her mother.
Philadelphia’s Overseer Tyriek White, Infamous for Going Off On Bishop, Passes Away
Byrd was deeply loved, and her family now hopes to honor her final wish of being buried in her hometown of Philadelphia. The family has launched a GoFundMe to support their family.
