How a Macon family channels grief into scholarship offering second chances

It has been seven years since Teisha Daniely lost her son, Javaris Antoine Brown, to gun violence — a loss she says still triggers deep pain.

“The loss of a child is no grief that I wouldn’t wish on anybody. You don’t want to be a part of that group because it’s a pain like no other,” Daniely told The Telegraph. “Even right now, I’m just grateful that God has given me the mental capacity and the emotional fortitude to be able to do this interview.”

Determined to turn that pain into purpose, Daniely and her family have launched this year the Javaris A. Brown Scholarship, an annual award designed to support Black males in Macon who face systemic, economic or social barriers. The $3,000 scholarship is now available to graduating seniors pursuing any form of higher education, including community college or trade school.

Their goal is to break cycles of violence in the community and offer new pathways rooted in hope for the young adults who may struggle financially to pursue careers.

“I think that age group is such a vulnerable population,” Daniely said. “Even though Javaris was 33 when he lost his life, I think that, especially now, if we don’t put things in place for the youth now, we’re going to lose them.”

The scholarship’s announcement comes amid recent gun-related incidents in Macon that have sparked widespread grief, coordinated prayer circles and urgent conversations among community members about how to stop the cycle.

Daniely said offering support to at-risk youth and young adults — rather than simply criticizing them — is critical to building a safer and more hopeful community.

“We’ve got to be able to assist our young men because we’ve got to find other institutions for them outside of the jails, the courthouse and the graveyards,” Daniely said.

Brown was fatally shot in 2018, marking Macon’s fifth homicide of the year, according to The Telegraph archives. He left behind three children.

Daniely remembers her son’s bright smile, his joy and his desire to be a good father and role model. That memory is now being honored through a scholarship, created with the help of five other family members.

“It was a tough loss for all of us,” said Lakesia Toomer, Brown’s cousin and executive director of the Next Level Community Center, a 25-year-old Macon nonprofit that serves youth ages 5 through 18.

Next Level focuses on empowering marginalized youth who have faced challenges to find new paths and excel in life. The program emphasizes youth development, college readiness and addressing underlying issues such as trauma and unhealthy choices — factors Toomer identified as contributing to gun violence.

Toomer said the scholarship is meant to reach those often overlooked due to past mistakes but want to get back on the right track.

“The scholarship came about because we want to be a part of keeping Javaris’ name alive,” she said. “We also want to reassure young people, or young adults, who may not have made some of these healthiest choices, that there’s always a second chance in life.

“Maybe you have a 2.0 (GPA) and you’re not eligible for other scholarships out there,” Toomer added. “And maybe if you had an opportunity, you’d want to get focused and enter a trade. Well, this scholarship would be one that you could apply for, because we’re not going to penalize you.”

Toomer said many young Black men in Macon are “under the gun,” and they should know there are people who are willing to help make their dreams come true.

“We are focused on African American boys specifically. They are the ones that right now are being caught up in the community violence and the gun violence. We just want to be a part of trying to offer a solution and be a part of changing the trajectory of their lives,” Toomer said.

As discussion around gun violence continue to rise in Macon, Daniely said the connection between her son’s death and the current state of the community is painfully clear.

“People don’t realize that when they take a life, they’re also robbing opportunities and dreams from both that victim and their family. It’s a domino effect, and it’s just sad to me.,” she said.

Daniely said her motivation comes from knowing her son’s death wasn’t in vain — that his memory could help bring change to others around her.

To the families who are dealing with grief from losing someone to gun violence: “Trust the process. Trust in God, even when it is difficult to understand the circumstances,” Daniely said.

Applicants can find the scholarship criteria online and apply. The deadline is July 1.