A Georgia family is reeling from heartbreak following the death of 19-year-old Kiera Shakoor, a resilient young woman who succumbed to cancer on Sunday, June 22 — just four years after losing her mother, Koya Shakoor, to breast cancer.
Kiera’s passing has devastated her three brothers, who are now left to grieve not only the loss of their youngest sibling but also the immense weight of trying to honor her final request: to be buried beside the mother she so dearly missed.
Diagnosed with a rare nerve cancer while still in high school, Kiera faced her illness with extraordinary courage. She continued her studies, graduated with her peers, and remained rooted in faith despite the painful road ahead. Unfortunately, her condition returned with greater severity this year, spreading to her brain and body.
Her eldest brother, 24-year-old Will Shakoor Smith, quit his job to care for her full-time in her final months. Her brothers Koyahn (24) and Justin (21) stood by her, offering every ounce of love and support they could.
“Even through her immense suffering, her faith never wavered,” wrote family friend Jennifer Johnson, who organized a GoFundMe campaign to help cover Kiera’s funeral expenses. “Instead, it grew stronger, becoming an inspiration to everyone blessed with the privilege of knowing her.”
The fundraiser underscores the financial toll of the tragedy and the urgency in helping the siblings give Kiera a proper farewell.
“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 told WXIA-TV, the local NBC affiliate.
Kiera’s story has touched hearts across Georgia and beyond, with outpourings of support from strangers moved by the family’s strength and love.
As the Shakoor brothers face life without their sister and mother, they remain grounded in faith — a source of comfort during an unthinkable time.
