TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - One mother of a fallen soldier is remembering her son by helping others.
WTXL ABC's Jada Williams was live Friday morning with the story behind a scholarship foundation that is spreading her love and her son's love for one college.
When Freda King decided to get her GED at TCC, she never thought it would become such a huge part of her life.
Now the college is one of her biggest reminders of her lost son Brandon.
For most families, school pride is a common way to come together.
The King family is using their love for Tallahassee Community College along with their heartache to help other students.
"Brandon was very proud that I went back to school as a returning adult student in my thirties," she said.
Freda King attended TCC, first to get her GED, then her associates degree before moving on to FSU.
Brandon even spent a semester there as well.
But in 2010, Brandon King was killed while serving in Afghanistan
Often you can find Mrs. King reflecting at the flagpole on TCC's campus. You can find a brick honoring her role as the Returning Adult Students Association and right beside it, a brick memoralizing her son Brandon.
The family decided to marry their love for the school and Brandon by helping others trying to further their education.
"If Brandon would have come home, we wouldn't have this scholarship," she said. "So I tell all of the recipients I let them know that blood was shed for this."
The scholarship foundation has raised $70,000 since its start, collecting money through things Brandon loved, like video games and his father's cooking.
All the King family asks the recipient's to do is "Honor my son's memory, do well and go forth and help others. That's so important to me as a mom."
Freda King will also be returning to TCC this fall as an adjunct professor.
The family's fundraiser is Saturday at 4 p.m. at the Dogwood House.
Here's the link to donate: https://www.tcc.fl.edu/about/college/tcc-foundation/.
