Some people leave a mark on your soul so deep that no matter how far you go, they never truly leave you. That’s the kind of presence Odessa Chambliss had in Shaquille O’Neal’s life. “Odessa Chambliss still motivates me. She was a great woman, and sometimes I still can’t believe she’s gone,” Shaq wrote in his memoir, Shaq Talks Back. Shaq grew up without his biological father, so he found comfort and peace within his maternal family, and at the heart of it was his grandmother, Odessa. She passed away from cancer in 1996. She was not only a beloved matriarch but also a nurse who dedicated her life to caring for others, a spirit of selflessness that continues to inspire the family. And to honor the very same spirit, the O’Neal family recently got together.

We all saw how years later, Shaq turned that love into a legacy. In 2011, Shaq and his family launched the Odessa Chambliss Quality of Life Fund (OCQLF)—a tribute to a woman who never asked for attention, just lived with quiet purpose. Odessa once said, “It’s not the quantity of years one lives, but the quality of life that is important.” That’s exactly what the fund tries to preserve—by supporting students who want to follow in her footsteps through careers in nursing and education. For Shaq, this isn’t just about giving back. It’s about keeping Odessa’s spirit alive, not just in memory, but in motion.

Taahirah O’Neal gave us a beautiful glimpse into a night filled with love and remembrance through her Instagram stories. “Celebrating the life and legacy of my great-grandmother, Odessa Chambliss,” she wrote—simple, heartfelt, and full of pride. It wasn’t a somber occasion. It was joyful. The entire O’Neal family showed up, smiling, proud, and wrapped in the warmth of Odessa’s memory. Shaq, in a rare and tender moment, was even seen singing along to one of the performances, fully present and clearly enjoying the night.

Adding to the emotion of the evening, Vivian O’Neal Hailes—Taahirah’s aunt and the fund’s lead facilitator—took to the stage too, making it feel more like a family reunion than a formal event. It was a celebration, through and through. Music, memories, and the strong heartbeat of a family honoring the woman who shaped them all.

Let’s dive deeper into what makes the bond between these two so uniquely special.

The unwavering belief of Odessa in Shaquille O’Neal

Shaq has never tried to paint a perfect picture of his early years—he owns his flaws. He wasn’t an academic standout, and he certainly wasn’t a child prodigy in sports. In fact, he’s admitted to getting cut from his ninth-grade basketball team because of how clumsy he was, and even joked, “I didn’t make a 1900 on the SAT.” But what he lacked in polish, he made up for with heart. And thankfully, there was one person who never once stopped believing in him—his grandmother.

While others saw a big, awkward kid still trying to figure it out, Odessa saw greatness in him, even when Shaq couldn’t yet see it himself. “That one right there, he’s special,” his mother, Lucille, recalled her mother saying. And whether he fully understood it at the time or not, those words stayed with Shaq, guiding him.

As his career flourished and the world came to know him as an NBA legend with MVP trophies and championships, that quiet but powerful belief never left him. After Odessa passed away in April 1996, Shaq made a vow. Every game played on April 2 would be dedicated to her. One of those games? A 50-point performance against the New Jersey Nets in 1998. It wasn’t about the stats or the headlines—it was about honoring the woman who believed in him when no one else did. He didn’t share the significance of that game with anyone until later, when he finally opened up in his book, saying, “I go to work for her that day.”

In Shaq Uncut, Shaq revealed the place where he felt the safest and most at peace—not under the bright lights of the NBA, but in the calm of his grandmother’s lap. “She would find me after I messed up when I was a kid,” he shared. “When he [Shaq’s father] was done hitting me, she’d sneak into my room, slip me a piece of pound cake, rock me, and tell me, ‘It’s okay, baby. Everything is gonna be fine.’” Even years later, when the pressure of the NBA playoffs was at its peak, it was the memory of Odessa’s comfort and love that helped him regain focus. Shaq once told his coach, Phil Jackson, that it was his grandmother’s lap that provided him with the security and calmness he needed to navigate even the toughest moments on the court.

O’Neal’s story is one of overcoming doubts—both his own and others. But even when things seemed uncertain, Odessa’s unwavering faith in him provided the foundation for his success. Her impact on his life went far beyond the basketball court, shaping the man he became today.