September 9, 2024 | By: Kyle Railey

This story is part of a collaborative project between Project: Cold Case and the University of North Florida’s Applied Journalism class.

Shafequa Berry was a beautiful, determined, and smart mother who was loved dearly by her family. Shafequa was born in Detroit, Michigan in May of 1984. Her Mother, Cassandra describes Shafequa as a “Good Baby”. Her older sister, Jamela remembers Shafequa always wanting to follow her everywhere. “She looked at me like her second mom, not only her sister”. Growing up, she was known as a quiet yet fun child who loved to go on adventures with her siblings. Chanel, her younger sister stated, “She had a consistent life, and I looked up to her, she was a good person with a great personality.”

On September 11, 2018, at the age of 34, Shafequa Berry was reported missing in Greenville, SC. Three days later, her body was found, and the police determined she had been murdered. Her case has never been solved.

Jamela and Shafequa had a very close sister relationship. Jamela explains, “We never had a time of separation, and we never fought. We were pregnant together and raised our children together more as siblings than cousins”. Jamela remembers Shafequa’s love of RNB music. “She loved Omarion and B2K”. Jamela reflects on their preteen years, “We were in a R&B group, singing and dancing, Our Aunt, Margaret was our producer and would book shows for us.” “Shafequa loved to travel, anywhere that was warm and near a beach” explains Jamela.

One story, Shafequa’s Aunt Margaret remembers is when Shafequa and her cousins walked to the river to go fishing, causing a search by the family until they were finally spotted walking back from the fishing trip. Another memory Margaret remembers is that when Shafequa was little, she would walk around the house on her heels like a penguin because she didn’t like to walk barefoot. Growing up, Shafequa was very flexible and athletic, with an ability to do splits. “One time, when Shafequa was little, she came running down the stairs and jumped off at one of the last steps to land a split like it was nothing,” Margaret explained.

Cassandra, Shafequa’s mother laughs remembering Shafequa’s childhood nickname, “Tweety Bird was the nickname she went by as a child, she had a pair of gym shoes with Tweety Bird on them and wore them even though they were too big.”

Shafequa was artistic, which led to her having a passion for fashion design and modeling. Shafequa got into modeling in her early twenties, Jamela describes her sister as, “A beautiful person, who loved being in the Spotlight”. Cassandra explains, “My daughter was a great hairdresser and makeup artist, she didn’t just model. She was my personal hairdresser”. Shafequa continued to pursue this passion as she got older, while also pursuing a degree in accounting. As an adult, Shafequa worked multiple jobs as an accountant and fashion designer for models. She began dating her live-in boyfriend, which forced her to move back and forth between Detroit and Greenville, SC.

Shafequa wanted everyone in her family to graduate and find meaning in life, no matter how long it took.” “Shafequa graduated from high school with a 4.0 GPA” her mother proudly explains. She showed love and support to everyone in her family and was a role model for young women in and outside of her family.

Shafequa was also an ally to everyone around her. When her younger brother came out, she was the first person he went to and Shafequa showed unconditional support and care. “Everyone loved her, so when we got news of her death, it brought a lot of pain to a lot of people,” Cassandra said.

On September 10, 2018, Shafequa was last seen alive by her boyfriend, Kierre Laquen Smartt, at 10:30 p.m. He told the police that when he woke up, she was gone. On September 14, Shafequa’s body was found in a wooded area off Dallas Road in Greenville, South Carolina. Police charged her boyfriend Smartt with her murder and was held in jail without bail. Ultimately, the case against him was dropped due to lack of evidence.

The family was devastated and angry and felt that investigators didn’t care about her. Shafequa’s children were taken in by her family, with Shafequa’s oldest son, raising her baby. Cassandra reflects on her daughter’s life, “She was a great mom, she was a hard worker, and she had a big impact in her children’s education and life. She didn’t deserve this, she had so much more to live.” Tragically the family lost two of their other beloved siblings who were predeceased by Shafequa.

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Anyone with information concerning the homicide of Shafequa Geniece Berry is asked to call the Greenville Police Department at (864) 467-4325. To remain anonymous and possibly be eligible for a reward, call the Greenville Crime Stoppers at (864) 232-7463.

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