A Mother’s Love: The Story of Shelly Hannibal

There is no greater soldier in the 21st century than a single mother. The world see's their disadvantage, but if you look deeper you will see so much more. Shelly Hannibal had her son at the age of 26. She married her son's father but the relationship only lasted two years. In her late twenties, she was forced to become the mother and father to her son Bjorn.

" I knew when I was pregnant that he was meant to be mine, I named him Bjorn because I knew he would be special. My whole life suddenly changed," said Hannibal.

Shelly Hannibal, originally known as Shelly Diane Marshall was born in Cincinnati, Ohio to Lois and Kit Marshall. She grew up in the suburbs of Northern California. The Marshall Family was the only black family in their suburban community. Life was good until their family was changed forever

Hannibal says, "One day my father was eating dinner with us, the next day he wasn't…I was too young to understand but my brother and sisters were older and their frustration told me everything I needed to know"

Her parents divorced when she was three years old. She now lived with her mother and 3 siblings. At a time when single mothers were unheard of, she now watched her mother raise their family all by herself. Hannibal's mother was a teacher, law student, and full-time parent. She watched her hustle and struggle to make sure all of her children went to college. Little did she know that her mother's life would foreshadow her own future. In many ways, it helped prepare her for the long road ahead.

Hannibal graduated from North Carolina A&T State University with a bachelor's degree in communications. She originally thought she would become a television host but soon after working her first newsroom job she knew journalism wasn't her calling. Her next job was at Bank of America where she met the father of her son and future ex-husband, Cecil Hannibal Jr.

After her marriage failed, Hannibal moved back home with her mother. She was young and lost like most 20 something-year-olds. Her son Bjorn was only two years old. She needed to figure out a way to make a better life for her family. Hannibal always had a passion for hair and beauty. She spent most of college making money by doing the hair and makeup of the woman in her college dormitory. Something told her even though she had a degree, she needed to go to cosmetology school. Once she received her license to practice, she moved to Atlanta, Georgia. Her only desire was to be successful and take care of her son.

" Moving to Atlanta was one of the hardest things I ever had to do. We moved here with nothing but faith and a new job opportunity," say's Hannibal

Shelly Hannibal and her son Bjorn Hannibal

Hannibal quickly built a decent clientele and began making a name for herself in the local beauty industry. Life was getting better but with being a single mother comes with complications. She recalls one day in particular that she will never forget.

Hannibal says, " My son asked me for lunch money, so I reached for my purse and realized I only had 20 dollars to my name...He was in high school and I knew how important it was for him to have money and I knew I'd make it back at work. When I got to my car I saw that I didn't have any gas in my tank. I had no money and no way to get to work… I was at my all-time low."

Being a single mother was difficult but she knew that no matter how tough life got if she kept faith then her family would be okay. After all her mother showed her what it meant to be a strong black woman. After her son graduated high school, Hannibal began looking into opening her own Salon. She is now the owner of "Atlanta Shelly' the luxury hair boutique. Her son is a junior at Georgia State University whose majoring in journalism.

One of Hannibal’s clients before and after

" I saw at an early age that he would be great in television, it was like looking at myself in the mirror, only I knew he would be different, I know he can make it," says Hannibal.

Hannibal and her son Christmas 2017

Hannibal looks back on the wild journey she's been a part of. From the birth of her son to the opening of her own business. She strongly believes that everything happens for a reason.

Hannibal says, "I tell my son that you always work your hardest and leave the rest to god. I am walking proof that all it takes is faith and determination and you can make your wildest dreams come true."