Leila Elberta Ross-Shier (born McTaggart 16 November 1886 - 26 September 1968) was a musician, educator and composer from the

Cayman Islands The Cayman Islands () is a self-governing British Overseas Territory—the largest by population in the western Caribbean Sea. The territory comprises the three islands of Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman, which are located to the ...

. Ross-Shier wrote the national song of the Cayman Islands, "

Beloved Isle Cayman "Beloved Isle Cayman" is the official national song of the Cayman Islands, composed by Leila Ross-Shier in 1930. As a British Overseas Territory, the official national anthem is "God Save the King "God Save the King" is the national anthem ...

Biography

Ross-Shier was born on November 16, 1886, in

Grand Cayman Grand Cayman is the largest of the three Cayman Islands and the location of the territory's capital, George Town. In relation to the other two Cayman Islands, it is approximately 75 miles (121 km) southwest of Little Cayman and 90 miles ( ...

. She worked as an educator,

librarian A librarian is a person who works professionally in a library providing access to information, and sometimes social or technical programming, or instruction on information literacy to users. The role of the librarian has changed much over time, ...

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 Segregation may refer to: Separation of people * Geographical segregation, rates of two or more populations which are not homogenous throughout a defined space * School segregation * Housing segregation * Racial segregation, separation of humans ...

at the time. Ross-Shier wrote "

" in 1930. She also wrote

hymns A hymn is a type of song, and partially synonymous with devotional song, specifically written for the purpose of adoration or prayer, and typically addressed to a deity or deities, or to a prominent figure or personification. The word ''hymn'' ...

and

ballads A ballad is a form of verse, often a narrative set to music. Ballads derive from the medieval French ''chanson balladée'' or ''ballade'', which were originally "dance songs". Ballads were particularly characteristic of the popular poetry and ...

, organized concerts and was a church

organist An organist is a musician who plays any type of organ (music), organ. An organist may play organ repertoire, solo organ works, play with an musical ensemble, ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers or instrumentalist, instrumental ...

. Ross-Shier was one of the signers of a

petition A petition is a request to do something, most commonly addressed to a government official or public entity. Petitions to a deity are a form of prayer called supplication. In the colloquial sense, a petition is a document addressed to some offici ...

that led to granting

women's suffrage in the Cayman Islands Women's suffrage in the Cayman Islands was granted in 1959. Women created two separate petitions for women's suffrage and sent them to the government in 1948 and in 1957 to request the right to vote. The right to vote in the Cayman Islands was sign ...

in 1959. Ross-Shier died on September 26, 1968, in Grand Cayman.

References

{{Authority control 1886 births 1968 deaths People from Grand Cayman Caymanian songwriters Women librarians