Leila Ross-Shier Explained

Leila Elberta Ross-Shier (born McTaggart 16 November 1886 - 26 September 1968) was a musician, educator and composer from the Cayman Islands. Ross-Shier wrote the national song of the Cayman Islands, "Beloved Isle Cayman".

Biography

Ross-Shier was born on November 16, 1886, in Grand Cayman. She worked as an educator, librarian and was an official Registrar of Births and Deaths. She encouraged all high school students to read, no matter the color of their skin, despite the norm of segregation at the time.

Ross-Shier wrote "Beloved Isle Cayman" in 1930.^[1] She also wrote hymns and ballads, organized concerts and was a church organist.^[2]

Ross-Shier was one of the signers of a petition that led to granting women's suffrage in the Cayman Islands in 1959.

Ross-Shier died on September 26, 1968, in Grand Cayman.^[3]

Notes and References

1. Web site: National Song . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20191125133121/http://www.gov.ky/portal/page/portal/cighome/cayman/islands/nationalsymbols/song . 25 November 2019 . 30 December 2019 . Cayman Island Government.
2. Web site: Singing the praises of National Song composer. Winker. Carol. 27 September 2018. The Cayman Compass. en-US. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20191230205531/https://www.caymancompass.com/2018/09/27/singing-the-praises-of-national-song-composer/. 2019-12-30. 2019-12-30.
3. Web site: Leila Elberta Ross-Shier composer of National Song remembered. Wilcox. Georgina. 22 October 2013. Cayman iNews. en-US. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20191230203436/https://www.ieyenews.com/wordpress/leila-elberta-ross-shier-composer-of-national-song-remembered/. 2019-12-30. 2019-12-30.