Makeva Jenkins worked her way from homelessness to financial success in just two years. She was proud of herself, and late Wednesday evening she wrote about her hard work on her Facebook page, while still taking time to encourage others.
“I’m in awe of how far I’ve come,” the post reads. “Fast forward to now: We overcame being homeless in 2013/2014 to reaching my six figure mark in 2015 to now making multi six figures. No matter what the road looked like, I followed my heart and stuck with it growing my business. I’m saying this to say, anyone can do it. It takes determination and consistency.”
Barely two hours after that post, early Thursday morning, a masked man knocked at the front door of her home on Plumbago Place near Santaluces High School, just west of Boynton Beach. He walked in, and was met by the people inside. An altercation started, resulting in the man fatally shooting Jenkins. It is unknown who the intended target was in the home.
The shooting happened just after 2 a.m. The man fled in the family’s vehicle and ditched it nearby, a sheriff’s spokesperson said. Jenkins was rushed to a hospital where she died.
Jenkins was 33, and a married mother of three children. She married Euri Jenkins in 2011, according to court records. She went to Glades Central High, and studied at Barry University and the University of South Florida.
“She was a very loving person. She loved her kids, and loved her family and loved her husband,” said Patricia Clarke, who is an assistant coach of Jenkins’ daughter’s travel basketball team.
Jenkins had two daughters ages 1 and 13, and one son, age 7, said Clarke. The 13-year-old girl is on the All Ball Elite travel team and Jenkins spent the past month traveling the state to support her daughter.
“Two weeks ago we were in Fort Myers and we celebrated her daughter’s 13th birthday. Three weeks before that we were in Fort Pierce for another tournament. A week before that we celebrated her daughter’s 1 year old.,” Clarke said. “It’s a great family and I’m just lost for words for what happened.”
She was so dedicated to her work, Clarke said.
Jenkins managed a business consulting company, The Prime Enterprise Group, which creates business plans and marketing strategies for entrepreneurs and small businesses, according to its Facebook page.
Her business, a relative remarked, revolved around helping others succeed.
“Everybody loved her,” said a relative, who asked not to be named.
Jenkins had a “5-Day Business Plan” digital seminar scheduled for mid-July. It would have been 10 hours worth of classes over five days and Jenkins would have helped the attendees put together business plans to submit to lenders for money. In May 2016, The Palm Beach Beat blog interviewed Jenkins in article about “West Palm Beach Financial Experts.” She gave advice to high school graduates on managing budgets and preventing debt.
Jenkins helped Wauncya Everett start her business, a nonprofit that offers seminars and workshops to educate and help domestic violence survivors. Everett received her 501C3 certificate Wednesday and planned to call Jenkins on Thursday to thank her.
“I went to the mailbox and there it was. She told me to call her as soon as I get it. That was my intention today, to call her. I just can’t thank her enough for what she’s done,” Everett said. “I’m speechless. My heart is just so heavy. I just can’t believe it.”
Jenkins’ Facebook page is dotted with personal posts, one that even shows her bank account. Family members wondered if her Facebook posts led to her death.
“Regretfully, the news reports are true,” someone posted on Jenkins’ Facebook page before noon Thursday. “The family of Makeva Jenkins asks that their privacy be respected at this most trying time. All of your love, condolences, and well wishes are appreciated; however, please refrain from calling or texting concerning the events. Please keep the family in your prayers.”
By Thursday evening, 63 people shared the post, 772 people reacted to it, and 196 people commented with their condolences.