Saundra Shorter was born to be a teacher. Everything else, she picked up along the way. Shorter, who died on Oct. 24 at the age of 71, had the skill and charisma to be anything, from a preacher to an actress to game show host, but her heart remained in education. She excelled as a student, earning an education degree from Virginia State University. From there, she became one of the first black women to receive a master's degree from the University of Virginia. She earned a doctorate in education from Virginia Tech.