T’Zion Dae was shot and killed at her Charlotte apartment complex in December 2023.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The holidays are a time for family, love, and celebration. However, for one Charlotte mother, they’re also a reminder of a devastating loss.
Takeisha Dae is keeping her daughter’s memory alive with a heartfelt memorial.
T’zion Dae is remembered as a bright light, a teen who loved to sing and dance, and who dreamed of one day becoming a veterinarian. Her kindness, her love for animals, and her devotion to her family and faith remain a beacon in the hearts of her loved ones.
Friday, Seversville Park became a place of both sorrow and hope.
“I just remember her good spirit, her laugh, her dancing at church, she would want us to be happy today, she would want to be celebrated,” said Takeisha Dae. “I just miss her, I miss you T’zion.”
“God gave her to us for 16 years and I cherish those years. Yet, when this season comes around there’s a hurt, there’s a sadness,” said Betty Erwin, T’zion’s great-grandmother.
The memorial was held exactly one year after the tragedy — two days after Christmas.
Loved ones wore red shirts with the words “Forever 16” emblazoned on the back. On the front side, her photo is printed close to their hearts.
“We come here to remember the memories, remember her laughter, her joy and the good energy she brought the family,” said Micah Thompson, her cousin. “She had this indescribable personality; she had a little sass to her, and we danced together at church.”
A large photo of T’zion was front and center surrounded by white dove balloons.
“She is one of my doves in the sky, flying around, singing,” said Takeisha Dae. “I don’t know if doves sing but [they’re] letting us know that she is around.”
Loved ones painted the sky in her favorite color, red, in remembrance of a life cut short.
“She would take the most care of me, we would walk to the store, and we would do dances together,” said her little sister. “She was the greatest sister in the world.”
This gathering is not just about mourning, but about spreading a message of violence prevention, urging the community to act so no other family has to endure this kind of loss.
“Put the guns down,” said Takeisha Dae “Parents. lock them up.”
“To be here is to honor her memory, although it is a tragic loss and it happened in a horrific way — we come here to remember the memories,” said Thompson.
Contact Jesse Pierre at jpierrepet@wcnc.com or follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.
If your loved one was impacted by this incident, WCNC Charlotte hopes to make this process less painful with our More Than A Number initiative. With your help, we want to share who your loved one was with our viewers in North Carolina and South Carolina. When you’re ready, fill out the form below or send us photos, memories and other details about them to desk@wcnc.com.
