I am the proud mother of a blessing.
Hey there, I'm Shirley and I am the proud mother of a premature blessing, her name is Dakota also known as Kota Bear. I am a native of Newark, New Jersey and, most recently, resided in Cleveland, Ohio where I attended Cleveland State University, majoring in Urban Studies with a minor in Organizational Leadership.
My experiences of being raised in the inner city of Newark ignited a flame in me at a young age to uplift and give back to those around me. When I was 21 years old, my mother passed away, creating a passion within myself that centered around empowering and uplifting young women.
My, other, passions include mentoring young girls and women, faced with adversity to set life goals and providing them with assistance to do so. In addition to helping shape today's young women, I also am an active mother to Demi, Peyton, Dakota and (now) Denver Smith, as well as a devoted wife to former NBA Cleveland Cavalier, JR Smith.
It is my hope to use my platform in a constructive light by making a positive impact in the world, today.
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MAMA BEAR
NOW AVAILABLE
One Black Mother's Fight for Her Child's Life and Her Own.
“Brave. Compelling. Provocative. ” —Gabrielle Union Wade, actress and New York Times bestselling author
In this moving memoir, Shirley Smith, wife of NBA Champion and All-Star J. R. Smith, tells the story of giving birth to one of the youngest premature babies to survive—using her experience to heighten awareness of the crisis of Black maternal and infant health and pay tribute to Black women’s resilience.
