The family of Sheena Gibbs, 40, is still searching for answers months after she vanished without a trace back in November of 2021. The former home health aide was preparing to embark on a trip across state lines to visit her hospitalized mother in Davenport, Iowa. When her family last spoke to her, she informed them that she would be arriving in Davenport the following day, but no one ever heard from her again.
Sheena Gibbs is beloved by family, friends and the Rogers Park community which she has called home for nearly two decades. Loved ones describe Sheena as kind, joyful, strong-willed, positive, creative and someone who could easily connect with people from all walks of life.
Most recently, Sheena worked at UIC performing COVID test scheduling. In the past Sheena worked as home health aide, a youth worker and a professional dance instructor.
Sheena survived cervical cancer at 25 and has been an outspoken advocate for young survivors. In 2019, Sheena’s poetry was featured by the Lurie Cancer Center of Northwestern University as part of their Cancer Survivorship Institute to support youth survivors.
Sheena is passionate about social justice and spent years volunteering as an HIV/AIDS educator, ESL teacher, peace activist and raising money to bring clean water to drought-stricken areas of Africa. She worked with organizations like the AIDS Foundation of Chicago, 1000 Wells Project, American Friends Service Committee and the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation.
In years prior to her disappearance, Sheena had an avid interest in West African, Jamaican and Hip Hop dance. She was a professional dancer and as an instructor, she taught kids about diverse dance traditions and cultures.
Sheena grew up near Davenport, Iowa and was very close to her mother and regularly visited family who live there. Sheena attended Truman College, Northeastern Illinois University and Spoon River College, where she was VP of Student Senate and graduated with honors.
At the time of her disappearance, Sheena was last seen near Greenleaf and Sheridan in Rogers Park in Chicago, Illinois. According to Tarver, Chicago police had been unable to use the tracking features of Sheena’s phone to track her movements because it had been turned off. Because she was on her way to care for her infirm mother, Chicago police are considering Sheena’s disappearance as a “high risk” case. Cases treated as “high risk” typically involve suspicion of foul play or death that is either imminent or has already taken place—a fact that has plagued Shenna’s family. “Some of the things that go through my mind, I don’t even want to speak out loud because I just want to hope and pray that she’s safe somewhere,” said Tarver.
Sheena is a 40-year-old Black woman with a dark complexion, 5’9”, 180 lbs with black shoulder length hair and brown eyes. She was last seen at the intersection of Greenleaf and Sheridan in the Rogers Park neighborhood on Chicago’s north side.
Those who’ve seen her or have a tip should contact CPD Area 3 SVU at (312) 744-8266 or Black & Missing Foundation at 877-97-BAMFI or email her family at
HelpFindSheena@gmail.com
There is a GoFundMe for Sheena’s family where you can support them in this turbulent time. All funds raised by this GoFundMe will go to the family to mitigate the financial impact of the case, as well as fund an independent investigation into Sheena’s disappearance.