[1] She is the daughter of Horace Sheffield III, a civil rights activist and pastor at New Destiny Christian Fellowship Church.

[2] Sheffield earned a bachelor's degree in public affairs from Wayne State University in 2008.

[4] While she attended college, Sheffield met Benny Napoleon, the sheriff of Wayne County.

[15] In August 2023, Sheffield set up an exploratory committee for a candidacy for mayor of Detroit in the 2025 election, hiring Nick Rathod as an advisor.

[16] Following the decision of Mike Duggan, the incumbent mayor, to not seek another term, Sheffield announced her candidacy to succeed him in December 2024.