Nationwide — An African American family from Atlanta, Georgia, is mourning the devastating loss of 19-year-old Kiera Shakoor, who died of cancer on Sunday, June 22. She died just four years after her mother, Koya, passed away from breast cancer. The tragedy has left her three brothers grappling with not only immense grief but also the emotional and financial burden of honoring her final wish: to be buried beside their mother.
According to People, Kiera was first diagnosed with a rare nerve cancer while still in high school. Despite her illness, she persevered and graduated, only for the disease to return aggressively this year, spreading to her brain and throughout her body. Her eldest brother, Will Shakoor Smith, 24, left his job to become her full-time caregiver, while her other brothers, Koyahn Smith, 24, and Justin Smith, 21, spent as much time by her side as possible.
“Even through her immense suffering, her faith never wavered,” wrote Jennifer Johnson, a family friend and organizer of a GoFundMe page created to support the grieving siblings. “Instead, it grew stronger, becoming an inspiration to everyone blessed with the privilege of knowing her.”
The online fundraiser highlights the family’s urgent need for help to fulfill Kiera’s final request to be laid to rest next to her mother. Johnson emphasized how unfair it is that the brothers must now navigate deep emotional pain while also struggling with the costs of a proper burial.
WXIA-TV, the local NBC News affiliate, reported that Kiera’s story has resonated with many, touching hearts across Georgia and beyond. Despite the immense hardship, Johnson said the siblings are drawing strength from their faith, which continues to sustain them.
“No family should have to endure such profound loss while simultaneously worrying about how to provide a dignified farewell for a child who is their sibling,” Johnson shared.