Jeter’s Dozen: Despite Trials, Ward 8 Mother of 12 Celebrates Triumphs and Her Children This Mother’s Day

While statistics indicate two parents raising one child in the District can be a tough and costly task, Christina Jeter, a Congress Heights resident, has faced the joys and challenges that come with raising 12 children on her own. Despite trials such as the tragic loss of her son who was incarcerated in October 2023, Jeter and her family will be celebrating many triumphs this Mother’s Day season.

“I have seven girls and five boys,” Jeter, 58, told The Informer. “It was my pleasure and my joy. I was born and raised in the city. Having children was my way of having the love that I didn’t get when I was child.”

Raising a child in the District can be expensive, according to a September 2023, post on LendingTree.com, which revealed that the cost is about $30,097 annually.

Jeter said her job salary provided the primary finances to raise her 12 children, but she did get TANF (Temporary Assistance to Needy Families) to supplement needs at times for her family.

Although nine men have fathered Jeter’s 12 children, the entire dozen share her last name.

“I got absolutely no help from the children’s fathers with some exceptions,” she said. “None gave 100%. Some maybe gave 15%. I never asked for child support. I never turned them against their Dad.”

Jeter’s Dozen 

Her eldest is Shannon Michelle, who is 43 and works as an entrepreneur in the hairstyle industry; the next oldest is Andrea Renee, a 40-year-old federal government employee. Following her is 39-year-old Tyria Paula, who also works for the federal government, and her next sibling in age is Lakia Maria, 35, a paralegal.

The eldest male child is Gary, 33, who works as a driver, while his next in line brother, David, 32, is employed. Robert, the third oldest male died while incarcerated in Victorville, California.

Anthony, 28, works as a host, as does Melvin, 25. Honors student Neshawn is a 20-year-old graduating senior at Spelman College in Atlanta, and she is followed by Christina Jeter Jr., 17, who attends Banneker High School in Northwest.

The youngest of Jeter’s clan is Chloe, a 13-year-old at the School Without Walls Frances-Stevens Middle School.

The Tragedy of Robert’s Undetermined Death in Prison

With all her children gainfully employed or thriving as students, and Jeter’s own wins over the years, one of the most painful episodes that she still deals with is the death of one of her sons, Robert.

“Robert was charged with carjacking and armed robbery in 2011,” Jeter said. “He was not the carjacker, but he was with the person who committed the crime.”

Jeter said her son got a 12-year, nine-month sentence in 2012. While he was incarcerated, Jeter said she wrote him letters, sent him money, and visited him when she could. At the time of his death, Robert was incarcerated at California’s USP Victorville facility. He died on Oct. 27, 2023, at the Arrowhead Regional Medical Center in Colton, California, according to coroner records.

According to a report from NBC 4 News, Jeter was told by a doctor from Arrowhead that Robert had been beaten so severely his brain had swollen and hemorrhaged and liver had split. However, those injuries were not corroborated by the prison or Bureau of Prisons, and the San Bernardino County ruled his cause of death as “undetermined.”

Jeter told The Informer, she has yet to receive a definitive answer from prison officials on how or why Robert died.

“I do not have an autopsy report or a death certificate,” Jeter said. “I have tried to talk with prison officials, but they will not talk to me. I have tried working with the Bureau of Prisons, but they give me the run-around. I am still going through this experience.”

Celebrating Wins

While she is still grappling with Robert’s death, Jeter makes it clear that she is proud of all her children accomplishing what they may despite difficulties. 

For instance, she beams when speaking of Newshawn.

“Neshawn will be graduating from Spelman with honors on May 19,” Jeter said. “She will be graduating with a degree in Economics. Her plans are to get a master’s degree in economics and eventually a Ph. D in the field.”

Jeter said early in the last decade, Neshawn won first prize in a writing competition sponsored by then-first lady Michelle Obama. Her piece ran in the New York Times and is part of a published book, Jeter said. 

“Because she won the contest and her piece ran in the New York Times, the Obamas invited Neshawn to the White House so they could meet her,” she said.

Jeter said Neshawn showed academic promise early in life, so much that the principal at her elementary school, School Without Walls at Frances-Stevens, wanted to skip her from sixth grade to eighth grade. However, Jeter declined the offer.

“I did not feel comfortable with Neshawn being with those older kids,” she said. “So, the principal worked it out where Neshawn would take her AP-English and AP-Math courses with the older kids and come back with her own classmates the rest of the time.”

Jeter said Christina Jr. has shown an interest in entrepreneurship and has opened up a hairstyling business.

“Christina cuts hair for men and women,” Jeter said. “She can do the hairstyles that are popular today. Christina is also at the Honor Society at Banneker. She is interested in attending Howard University.”

Jeter said Chloe has established herself as a track competitor, running in Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) meets in the 100 meters, 400 meters and 4X4 relay.

Reflecting on a Mother’s Perseverance

Jeter’s oldest daughter Shannon speaks highly of her mother. 

“Being raised by Christina, it was what it was,” said Shannon, a resident of Fort Washington, Maryland, who her mom birthed at 15-years-old. “We had our ups and downs, but I will say that my mother was a warrior. She worked her butt off to provide for us. She is the strongest woman I have ever met.”

Shannon said Jeter possesses a strong drive and is resilient.

“No matter what life throws at her, she ends up on her feet,” she said.

Shannon said she was “mom number two,” assisting Jeter in raising her siblings.

“While she was working, I was the one with the kids,” she said. “I helped them get ready for school and get them ready to go to bed.”

Jeter said that while she mainly raised her children she was helped by her mother and friends. In her early years as a mother, Jeter said a friend, Chery P. Grady, played a crucial role in helping her to raise Shannon. 

The oldest of the dozen said others who played a role in the rearing of her siblings included family friends and aunts.

“It was definitely a village,” said Shannon.

Keeping Her Kids on Track, Thriving

The mother of 12 said she kept her children engaged by providing them a structured environment. 

“I ran the house,” Jeter said. “I told them what was expected. I saw to it that they got to school and came home. There was a time when my children went to schools that were close. Some of my children were at Deal Junior High School, while some went to Wilson [High School].”

While the late Robert had his challenges reading and writing, and eventually dropped out of school, education and furthering her children’s opportunities has always been critical in Jeter’s mothering. 

She said during the school year, the children would participate in after-school programs. During the summer, Jeter would sign her children up for camps sponsored by the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department and the University of the District of Columbia.

“During the school year, my kids would participate in the Marie Reed [Elementary School] after-school program,” she said. “During the summer, they would participate in swimming and gymnastics at UDC.”

Overall, Jeter said she has enjoyed raising and interacting with her children.

“I love seeing them develop into strong, productive men and women,” she said. “I did what I had to do to raise them.”