Yvette Nicole Brown

One task that loomed over her was picking out the clothes Mike Mike would be buried in.

One task that loomed over her was picking out the clothes Mike Mike would be buried in.

Leslie remembers talking to Austin Lane, the funeral director, about how she wanted Mike to look.

Leslie remembers talking to Austin Lane, the funeral director, about how she wanted Mike to look.

The night before the funeral, Leslie and about 100 family members and friends gathered for a private viewing of Mike Mike before he would be laid to rest.

The night before the funeral, Leslie and about 100 family members and friends gathered for a private viewing of Mike Mike before he would be laid to rest.

Leslie remembers seeing his body for the first time before anyone else. She hoped the funeral home had made Mike look like his picture, as if he was just asleep.

Leslie remembers seeing his body for the first time before anyone else. She hoped the funeral home had made Mike look like his picture, as if he was just asleep.

Mike Mike's funeral was held on August 25, 2014. The St. Louis Cardinals baseball cap couldn't go on his head because of the swelling. So Leslie placed it on top of his casket. She also wore red, his favorite color.

Mike Mike's funeral was held on August 25, 2014. The St. Louis Cardinals baseball cap couldn't go on his head because of the swelling. So Leslie placed it on top of his casket. She also wore red, his favorite color.

Over 4,500 mourners filled Friendly Temple Missionary Baptist Church in St. Louis. Among the attendees were civil rights leaders, celebrities, and representatives from the White House. Not everyone was simply paying their respects, though. Family, on Mike's dad's side, also showed up to sell merchandise with Mike's face on it. For Leslie, it was a slap in the face.

Over 4,500 mourners filled Friendly Temple Missionary Baptist Church in St. Louis. Among the attendees were civil rights leaders, celebrities, and representatives from the White House. Not everyone was simply paying their respects, though. Family, on Mike's dad's side, also showed up to sell merchandise with Mike's face on it. For Leslie, it was a slap in the face.

With everything going on, from organizing Mike's funeral to dealing with people trying to profit off her son, Leslie couldn't just grieve as a parent who had lost her firstborn. She found herself put into a role she never could have imagined and never asked for, a mother of the movement.

With everything going on, from organizing Mike's funeral to dealing with people trying to profit off her son, Leslie couldn't just grieve as a parent who had lost her firstborn. She found herself put into a role she never could have imagined and never asked for, a mother of the movement.

Leslie remembers sitting down for interviews at 4 or 5 in the morning, running on an hour of sleep. In just a couple of months, she appeared on ABC News, CBS Evening News, and the Steve Harvey Show, just to name a few. She even testified at the U.N. Every time, she had to recount August 9th over and over again.

Leslie remembers sitting down for interviews at 4 or 5 in the morning, running on an hour of sleep. In just a couple of months, she appeared on ABC News, CBS Evening News, and the Steve Harvey Show, just to name a few. She even testified at the U.N. Every time, she had to recount August 9th over and over again.

Even so, these interviews were a way for Leslie to channel her pain into something positive, to support Mike, and to avoid stewing in sadness at home.

Even so, these interviews were a way for Leslie to channel her pain into something positive, to support Mike, and to avoid stewing in sadness at home.

As she became a fixture on TV, Leslie started to get recognized.

As she became a fixture on TV, Leslie started to get recognized.