Dellarontay Readus had everything going for him. Last year he was accepted in all eight Ivy League schools, decided on a school, and was scheduled to start classes this fall at Stanford University, where he has a full scholarship.
But a few weeks ago, just a month before starting classes, his mother Lynn Readus passed away unexpectedly and without life insurance. And as any caring son would do, he was willing to do anything to see that she had a proper burial.
“I can’t do anything else but cry,” confessed Readus. “My momma was honestly my reason for everything I’ve ever done.”
MUST READ: Wow! Chicago Teen Breaks Scholarship Record!
So he decided that he was going to use his college savings to bury his mom.
Love 93.1 WZAK? Get more! Join the 93.1 WZAK Newsletter
We care about your data. See our privacy policy.
“Even if I was to give away everything I have currently, it still wouldn’t be enough,” he said. “So it was just like a really, really, really bad situation.”
…basically it all comes down to the fact that we’re poor and we don’t have anything.” The family never wanted to ask for money, but when someone convinced him to set up a GoFundMe page, the community stepped up, big time.
Prayers are being answered for the 18-year-old and his family. Donations to help defray funeral costs for his late mother are flooding the GoFundMe website.
“It just blew up,” Dellarontay said. “More and more people kept donating.” The current total is over $40,000. Much more than they’d every thought.
The Readus family will now have money to provide a proper burial for Lynn with enough left to purchase a gravestone as well.
Dellarontay plans to be at Stanford on Sept. 13th for orientation and the start of a busy college life. But this next step in his life will be a lot different not having the #1 woman in his life anymore.
“It’s going to have to be an everyday thing. You know, waking up and knowing I can’t speak to my momma, can’t hear from my momma,” he said.
For more on this amazing young man or to donate to his future, click here.
