The tale of up-and-coming NFL player Zamir “Zeus” White isn’t one of football alone—it’s one of survival, perseverance, and the individuals who stood by him long before he wore a Raiders jersey. Born with life-altering ailments and built through struggle, White’s journey from Laurinburg, North Carolina, to the Las Vegas Raiders has been nothing less than remarkable. Behind the running back and returner’s inspiring journey are the figures who shaped his life: his mother, his absent father, and the family members who stepped in when needed.

Before becoming Georgia’s star rusher and a fourth-round NFL Draft selection in 2022, White endured countless surgeries, early struggles, and severe injuries that could have destroyed anyone else’s aspirations. But his family’s encouragement and his unbreakable perseverance made him survive and flourish. Let’s take a peek at Zamir White’s parents and how they helped shape the man and athlete he is today.

Who is Zamir White’s mother, Shanee White?

Shanee White, Zamir White’s mom, is at the center of his incredible story. Only 14 when she was pregnant with Zamir, Shanee was medically advised to abort the pregnancy as Zamir weighed just one pound at the six-month stage. It was her grandmother, Nancy White, who motivated her to keep the child.

Despite her age, Shanee decided to raise her son with unshakeable determination. Not only did she complete school, but then she went on to pursue higher education, eventually earning a master’s degree in criminal justice. Professionally, she has worked as a corrections officer with the North Carolina Department of Public Safety. Balancing motherhood and her career was never easy, but Shanee’s strength and persistence set an early example for Zamir.

Shanee’s sacrifices and strength reflect the same determination her son possesses on the gridiron. Though she acknowledges the path wasn’t deliberate, her affection for Zamir became the biggest motivating factor, making sure he had a way to ascend beyond the struggles of their home, Laurinburg.

Who is Zamir White’s father?

In contrast to his mother, Zamir White’s biological father has had little involvement in his life. Shortly after Zamir was born, his father was incarcerated, and their relationship has remained strained ever since. Without a steady father figure, Zamir turned to other family members for support and guidance.

One man who stepped into that role was his mother’s uncle, Anthony Pegues. Anthony became a mentor and father figure to Zamir, training with him daily and instilling discipline both in life and in football. He taught Zamir about greatness, comparing it to legends like Walter Payton, and pushed him to live up to the words, “I want to be great.”

Anthony’s job was not only football drills—it was instructing Zamir’s mentality. He trained with him, prayed with him, and filled in for his missing father. Although Zamir’s father was missing for the most part, Pegues’ presence provided him with the stability and support necessary to keep pushing forward.

What ethnicity are Zamir White’s parents?

There is no publicly available source that specifies Zamir and his parents’ ethnicity. However, Zamir was raised and initially found his football potential in Laurinburg, North Carolina, a town where

Laurinburg is a small, impoverished city where life is challenging every day. However, Shanee and her extended family kept Zamir grounded, focused, and determined not to fall into the traps that engulfed the local youth. Their cultural and social connections provided White with a foundation to surge above his situation and reach for more.

Zamir White’s relationship with his parents

Despite initial struggles, White is close to and deeply respectful of his mother, Shanee. She has been a presence throughout his life, from high school grounds to big college games. Shanee has often spoken proudly of her son’s determination and credited him with giving her the strength to fight through her own struggles.

White has spoken on several occasions about how he wishes to “pay back” his mother for the sacrifices she made. “I know she’s not expecting it. My mother doesn’t care about material things, but my goal is to make it to the NFL and support my mother, sister and aunts for what they did for me,” he had said per an ESPN report dated 2021.

Though his father has been nowhere to be found, White’s appreciation of his uncle and other relatives is obvious. Being present at games, supporting him through adversity such as his ACL injuries, and having unshakable belief in him reminded him of his toughness.