Koya Madinah Shakoor

All of her life here on Earth, Koya Shakoor touched many people through her kind words and actions, her faithfulness and selflessness. She was a bright ray of sunshine wherever she went and she made sure that you felt that whether she was just meeting you for the first time or had already known you. She was a loving mother, sister, aunt and daughter. Her children were her drive, her determination, and her motivation to work hard, build herself up and always keep her faith. She moved to Georgia with absolutely nothing with her four young children to start a new life after living and growing up in Michigan her whole life. She was determined to make a better life for her children, and that is exactly what she did and more. She walked twelve miles to work when her children were younger, working full time, she made it to all of her children’s extracurricular activities with full support, she made it to all of the award ceremonies, and she gave them a strong role model to look up to as a single parent. She was diagnosed with Stage IV Breast Cancer in 2017. This began to shape her life in ways that brought out her creativity. Koya Shakoor was a poet. She wrote this poem titled:

“ Why Cancer Chose Me” Because I am strong I can not be broken I will have a story to tell I can help others Help me meet new people Get out my comfort zone Quit smoking Eat healthy Make a way for others Talk more Share my story Write a book Get close with the Almighty Understand others Believing in forgiveness

This poem Koya wrote exemplifies how even when she was diagnosed with cancer, or confined to a wheelchair, she did not let any of that stop her from being the mother that she believed her children deserved, or that beautiful person that is a bright ray of sunshine that made you feel warm and loved. She was a superwoman. All while doing this, she always made sure to help others and spread love and kindness to them. She was loving friend to many. There are so many people who can say that Koya Shakoor helped them in ways that showed how genuine and lovely her personality was. The love that Koya left us with will forever live in our hearts and her spirit will forever live on.