About the Foundation

The Zaevion Dobson Memorial Foundation was established in 2016* to promote and provide recreational and educational facilities for underserved communities.  Zaevion Dobson was both an athlete and a scholar.  He loved sports and he loved to read and write.  In keeping with Zaevion’s goals and achievements in his lifetime, the Foundation hopes to provide safe environments for underserved youth to gather, play, and learn together.

* Tennessee nonprofit entity; 501(c)(3) IRS. EIN: 81 – 3579215

The Foundation Board

Zenobia Dobson:  President

Zenobia Dobson is a Knoxville native and the mother of Zaevion Dobson, who died in December 2015 while heroically shielding friends from gang-related shootings. Zenobia has been employed for four years with the Community Action Committee making a difference in seniors’ lives. Since the death of her son Zenobia has become an advocate for promoting and providing recreational and educational facilities for underserved communities and for raising awareness about gun violence and its impact on our youth. She established the Zaevion Dobson Memorial Foundation in 2016 in her son’s memory; the Foundation hopes to provide safe environments for underserved youth to gather, play, and learn together. She is the recipient of the 2017 Advocacy Award from the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Commission of Knoxville.

Talanda Dobson:  Vice President

Talanda Dobson is Zenobia Dobson’s sister and aunt of Zaevion Dobson. She has worked at Y-12 National Security Complex for 35 years and has an Associate Degree in Computer Programming. She is very active in her church, Martin Chapel United Methodist Church. The Dobson family is quite close, and her daughter, J’Tia, is like a sister to Zack and Zaevion Dobson.

Erica Kyle: Secretary

Erica Kyle is a Knoxville native and a graduate of Central High School. She works in the Insurance field and serves on the Lonsdale Homecoming Committee. Married with four children, Erica is a member of Calvary Baptist Church.

Lynn E. Clemons, Jr.: Member

Lynn is a 22-year law enforcement veteran. He is a graduate of Bethel University with a B.S. in Criminal Justice and is currently pursuing a M.S. in Sports Management at the University of Tennessee. He has two sons, Jalynn and Jayden.

Jeremy Cook:  Member

Jeremy is a Senior Vice President for Pinnacle Financial Partners. He is the recipient of the Whitney M. Young, Jr. Service Award from Boy Scouts of America where he currently serves as District Chair for Knoxville’s Chehote District. He is a board member of Home Source East Tennessee and is President Elect for the North Knoxville Rotary Club. He is a graduate of Introduction Knoxville and is a member of Leadership Knoxville’s Class of 2017.

Byron Williamson:  Member

Byron Williamson was born and raised in Kingsport, Tennessee. A 1986 graduate of East Tennessee State University with a BS in Computer Science, Mr. Williamson began his career as a computer programmer at Cruze Computer Systems in Knoxville, Tennessee and purchased the company in 2006. He is a member of Martin Chapel UMC in the Lonsdale Community where he holds one of the Lay Servant positions within the church. He also serves on several of the churches District level teams. He is a Board Member of Technology Cooperative, a non-profit that focuses on introducing young underserved youth to technology. Mr. Williamson also owns and operates Tennessee Sewing Company, started in 2016 to provide sewing services to the upholstered furniture industry. One of the company’s goals is to provide jobs to underserved minorities who may not otherwise have an opportunity for employment.

Bryan Cook: Member

Bryan Cook is originally from San Jose, California, but moved to Knoxville, TN in the early 90’s. Bryan graduated from Oak Ridge High School in 2004.. He is a self-taught videographer and marketing director of a local real estate firm, Our Home Real Estate.