Cora D. McCauley was born on February 5, 1957 in Baltimore, Maryland to Ruby Brown McCauley and Devoid McCauley. Her grandparents were Elouise Earl McCauley and Webster Moses McCauley. She has two brothers who proceeded her in death - Andrew McCauley and Webster Mose McCauley. Surviving brothers are Devoid McCauley (Alice) and Monroe Sylvester McCauley, and her surviving sisters are Juanita McCauley Timmons (Tim) and Teresa Ann Poole (Bobby).

She had one biological son, Shawn Leroy Barksdale (Shena), and a daughter she raised, Angela Melinda Wilson. She had 9 grandchildren- Shawn Trevon Barksdale (Ashley), Darius Devonta Barksdale, Quentarias Malik Harbin, Jai’Aanna Nashawn McCauley Putnam (Thomas), Jessica Briana Campbell, KaiShawn Corlin Rasheen Barksdale, KeyShawn Khalil Barksdale, Alyssa McGarity, Antonio Averette, and Wendi Goffer. She also had 9 great-grandchildren, and a host of nieces and nephews.

She attended Carver High School on Preston Street in Baltimore City, Maryland. She loved gospel music, bowling, skating, and had a love for softball.

Special thanks to her nieces Wanda Witherspoon, LaShonda McCauley, and Pamela Poole Bowman.