Rocky Mount Substitute Teacher Who Fought Student Delivers Powerful Speech At Son’s Funeral

Rocky Mount Substitute Teacher Who Fought Student Delivers Powerful Speech At Son’s Funeral

A former substitute teacher once caught in viral classroom chaos is now facing unimaginable grief—and using her pain to preach unity.

Xaviera Steele, the Rocky Mount educator who made headlines after fighting a student over a confiscated cellphone in April 2023, stood tall in front of family and friends Friday afternoon, delivering a passionate speech at the funeral of her 19-year-old son, Ryo Steele.

Ryo, along with his 20-year-old friend La’Ren Dickens, was shot and killed in the early morning hours of July 13, 2025, on Virginia Street in Rocky Mount. The tragedy unfolded just before 3 a.m. So far, four suspects have been taken into custody in connection to the double homicide.

“FULL OF LOVE” – A MOTHER’S LAST WORDS

Xaviera Steele addressed the crowd at her son’s funeral on Friday, describing her son as someone who “stood on being real.”

“THE REASON HE IS LAYING RIGHT HERE STRETCHED OUT TODAY IS BECAUSE OF HATE, BACKBITING… EVIL EYE,” she said with raw emotion. “YOU AIN’T GOT TO HATE NOBODY. AND THAT’S WHY FOLKS CAN’T GET NOWHERE — BECAUSE OF HATE IN YOUR HEART.”

At one point, Xaviera sent a cryptic yet emotional message to the crowd:

“YOU GOT TWO YEARS TO GET IT TOGETHER. START SHOWING LOVE TO PEOPLE, STOP BEING RUDE AND UNKIND! STOP HAVING THE EVIL EYE AND STOP TALKING ABOUT FOLKS.”

She ended her powerful speech with a call to action:

“LET’S STEP IN THE NAME OF LOVE AND OUT WITH THAT OTHER STUFF.”

WATCH THE SPEECH:

Our thoughts and prayers are with family and friends of Ryo Steele.