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Mother of Waffle House Victim Who Died Singing Gospel Receives Her Daughter’s College Diploma

This Saturday, Shirl Baker, the mother of DeEbony Groves, a young girl who was tragically shot and killed at a Waffle House in Tennessee, accepted her daughter’s college diploma during what would have been her graduation ceremony.

Robert Fisher, president of Belmont University, acknowledged the missing student during his commencement address on Saturday.

‘While our hearts were broken, today we have the chance to celebrate DeEbony’s life together,’ he said for News Channel 5.

In a powerful moment, amidst her grieving, Shirl Baker walked across the stage and on her behalf of her daughter’s accepted the college degree.

The victims mother, Shirl Baker was not the only member of the family that walked across the stage.

Her brother, Di’Angelo Groves, was also graduating on Saturday. Instead of a moment shared with his sister, he wiped his tears away as the school announced a scholarship in his sister’s honor.

One week earlier, during DeEbony’s funeral Waffle House CEO Walt Ehmer told the people attending that in her last moments, she was singing gospel songs.

‘And that’s the higher power that inspired the last reported words of DeEbony Groves as she and her friend were singing ‘Yes, Jesus Loves Me’ just before she departed that Waffle House for heaven’s gate,’ said Fisher in his commencement speech.

DeEbony Groves was shot and killed on April 22 at an Antioch Waffle House. Four people died in that incident, and four others were injured. Metro Police officers arrested Travis Reinking after a manhunt.

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