In June 1997, Shabazz was trapped in a fire was set by her twelve-year-old grandson, Malcolm Shabazz (son of Qubilah, who was a drug addict at the time), in their apartment in Yonkers, NY. Shabazz died three weeks later, from 3rd degree burns covering 95% of her body.
[1] Russell J. Rickford postulates that Shabazz was born in Pinehurst, citing early documents such as school transcripts. However, her marriage license and nursing certificate both list Detroit. Shabazz' birth certificate has never been located.
Father: Shelman Sandlin ("Juju", b. 1913, Betty is his illegitimate daughter)
Mother: Ollie Mae
Father: Lorenzo Don Malloy (foster father, shoemaker)
Mother: Helen Lowe (foster mother, b. 1898)
Husband: Malcolm X (m. 14-Jan-1958, d. 1965 assassination, six daughters)
Daughter: Attallah (b. 1958)
Daughter: Qubilah (b. 1960, arrested Jan-1995 for hiring a hit man to kill Louis Farrakhan.)
Daughter: Ilyasah (b. 1963)
Daughter: Gamilah (b. 1964)
Daughter: Malaak (twin, b. 1965)
Daughter: Malikah (twin, b. 1965)
High School: Northern High School, Detroit, MI
University: Tuskegee Institute (left to study nursing)
University: RN and BA, Brooklyn State Hospital School of Nursing (1958)
University: BA and MA Public Health Education, Jersey City State College
University: PhD Education Administration, University of Massachusetts at Amherst (1975)
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority
Nation of Islam
Adopted
Converted to Islam
Religious Mission: Hajj
Funeral: Martin Luther King (1968)
Caught Fire June 1997, Yonkers NY
FILMOGRAPHY AS ACTOR
Unfaithfully Yours (10-Feb-1984) · Woman at Plaza
AKA Betty Jean Sanders