An anonymous donor moved by a local mother’s emotional and candid obituary for her murdered son responded to her appeal for donations to at-risk youth programs by giving $25,000 to the Roots of Music.
The New Orleans after-school program, which offers free mentoring and music education for youngsters, received the gift not long after the obituary for Robert Wells III, 22, was published Feb. 23 online and in The Times-Picayune | New Orleans Advocate, said Suzanne Raether, the group’s interim managing director.
“We were blown away by this donation and certainly very sad to hear about the impetus for it,” Raether said Tuesday.
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Robert Wells was killed on a Harahan street. His mom wrote an obituary every parent should read.
Deborah Wells wasn’t sure whether she should submit an obituary after her only son, Robert Wells III, 22, was gunned down in front of a Haraha…
Wells was gunned down Feb. 16 in the driveway of a Harahan home, prompting his mother, Deborah Wells, 59, to pen a heartbreakingly raw obituary for her only son, denouncing the lifestyle of bad choices and fast money that she believes led to his death.
“He was a wonderful, funny, intelligent, talented and compassionate young man until the false desires of fast money and instant gratification lured him away from the morals and ethics instilled in him from a young age,” Deborah Wells wrote.
At the end of the obituary, which quickly went viral on social media, Deborah Wells asked that a small donation be made to any groups that seek to help at-risk youth.
She had no idea that what she wrote in grief would touch so many or inspire such generosity. When she learned of the donation to Roots of Music on Tuesday, Deborah Wells’ words turned to silent weeping.
“Wow,” she gasped. “I’m overwhelmed.”
Unable to immediately convey her thoughts, Wells later wrote in a note that she was humbled by the kindness and humanity that many have shown since the obituary was published.
“Thank you from the bottom of my aching heart to all those that have donated in my son Robert’s name and comforted me during my painful journey to a new life without him here, somewhere on God’s earth,” she wrote.
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The Roots of Music was co-founded in 2007 by Rebirth Brass Band member Derrick Tabb. About 170 underprivileged New Orleans children, ages 9 to 14, from about 50 different schools receive free transportation, homework help, musical training and a meal from the program, which operates year-round, five days a week, Raether said.
She described it as a crime prevention and youth development program that uses music education to mentor children.
“It’s amazing what can happen when you put a child in a large band that expects excellence from you and gives you a lot of support and love,” Raether said.
Wells’ violent death is exactly the kind of tragedy that the Roots of Music family is trying to prevent, she said.
In the days since the obituary was released, Deborah Wells said she’s received countless messages of solace and understanding from relatives, friends and strangers. She said she is grateful that his life may still help someone else.
“I pray that the words in Robert’s obituary continues to prompt a movement to end violence amount our young people and teach understanding and acceptance,” she wrote.