Tracy M. Hayward was born in Salem, New Jersey, to Lena Elmira Hayward, who was only sixteen at the time. She moved to Philadelphia with her mother and aunt in 1982 and attended Douglas Middle School before dropping out in the tenth grade after becoming pregnant. Later, she pursued nursing and graduated from M.S.T.B. Nursing School. Her professional career included work as a security guard at the Science Museum and Seaport Museum, a home health aide with Total Health Care, and employment with Honor Guard and Rite Aid. She is a mother and a grandmother.