Reclaiming her Roots: How one woman turned grief into a multi-generational legacy

Karen Owens
Georgetown SC Gazette, Publisher

When the noise of life in Florida faded into sudden loss, Shakori Edwards found herself standing at a crossroads. For years, direction had felt like a distant concept—floating from one unfulfilling job or relationship to the next, unsure of where her true potential lay. But the passing of her mother shattered the haze. The ultimate wake-up call came shortly after her father announced plans to sell her mother’s home in South Carolina, the physical anchor of her family’s roots.

Refusing to let the property slip into the hands of strangers, Shakori made the trip back to South Carolina. What began as a journey to save a house quickly transformed into an awakening of identity, heritage, and purpose.

Surrounded by the quiet soil of St. George, she began unearthing her family history. She discovered that her great-great-grandfather, Rev. Morris Stewart—who was born enslaved—had bought land and at age 37 signed the 1875 deed for a local church to serve his community. Decades later, her grandmother taught local children, her mother served as a dedicated educator for over 40 years, and her father and siblings all worked within the community’s schools. Her family had spent generations building people up. Saving her mother’s home was no longer just about preserving real estate; it was about stepping into a long, unbroken lineage of community builders. 

Starting with just $20.94 in her bank account and a credit score in the low 500s, Shakori made the choice to rebuild her life from the ground up. Lacking a formal degree in technology, she became completely self-taught, mastering software design and development. She went on to build her own digital products, design brands, and bring 9 distinct mobile applications from initial concept to full deployment across Google Play and the App Store.

Her personal turnaround became the blueprint for empowering others. To document her raw experience of overcoming rock bottom, grief, and financial hardship, she authored her memoir, From $20 to a Porsche: A Real World Story. Through her writing, she shares a candid message of self-reliance, demonstrating that regardless of how lost one might feel, it is always possible to rewrite your narrative.

Determined to pass this spirit of resilience to the next generation, Shakori founded the Youngpreneur Academy. The nonprofit provides free resources, financial literacy programs, and business training to young people, equipping them with the tools and mindset needed to achieve financial independence and lead their own ventures.

By returning home to protect her mother’s legacy, Shakori found her own. She reclaimed her family history, built a thriving tech ecosystem, and created a platform that lifts young people out of uncertainty. Her journey stands as a powerful reminder for women everywhere: no matter where you start or how directionless the path may seem, choosing yourself and honoring your roots can ignite a legacy that transforms entire communities.

Shakori’s book comes out October 24, with signed copies available at from20toaporsche.com. To learn more about Shakori, visit https://shakori.co/.