18-year-old Matthew Jackson was a senior at Riverside High when he was shot and killed on Nov. 22 at a Jacksonville Burger King, where he worked.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Nearly six months after losing her son to gun violence, Natasha Jackson walked across the Riverside High School stage Wednesday to accept his diploma in his honor.

18-year-old Matthew Jackson was a senior at Riverside High when he was shot and killed on Nov. 22 at a Jacksonville Burger King, where he worked. Investigators say a fight broke out between one of his coworkers and another man, and Matthew tried to break it up when shots were fired. He was killed while trying to help.

“I tapped into a strength that I did know that I have,” his mother, Natasha Jackson, said.

The graduation ceremony was supposed to be a joyful moment. For Matthew, the goal was to graduate alongside his twin sister, Madison. Both walked across the same stage, but this time, Madison walked without her brother physically beside her.

“It was kind of emotional for her because she didn’t have her twin there with her, but he was there in spirit,” Jackson said. “That has been like a lifelong goal for them two. They wanted to graduate together.”

When we spoke with his mother, she shared May 22 marks the six‑month anniversary of Matthew’s death.

“Today is the six‑month anniversary,” Jackson said. “Today I kinda woke up in good spirits because of the love that I received on Wednesday.”

Jackson said she’s grateful to Duval County Public Schools and Riverside High for allowing her to walk the stage and accept Matthew’s diploma, calling it “an honor.”

She remembers her son as a peaceful young man who always tried to protect others and lift people up.

“He just had this thing with protecting people,” she said. “If you were having a bad day, he would be that person to just try to crack a silly, corny joke and just put a smile on your face.”

Now, Jackson is turning her pain into purpose through a new foundation named in Matthew’s honor.

“The name of it is Matthew’s Legacy of Life Foundation,” she said. “My goal first and foremost is I want to give scholarships out to the high school seniors in Jacksonville. I want to start that going on next year.”

She hopes Matthew’s story will help other families who are grieving the loss of a child to senseless violence.

“Going through that grief process that is possible like you can thrive through this, we’re hurting,” Jackson said. “I know I’m hurting, but we can find great avenues to overcome this.”

His mother said Matthew had dreamed of joining the Marines and serving his country. She said support from friends, family and the community, through prayers, phone calls, hugs and messages, has helped keep her strong.

“It means everything,” she said.