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. She also wrote hymns and ballads, organized concerts and was a church organist.
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.
References
- ^ Wilcox, Georgina (22 October 2013). "Leila Elberta Ross-Shier composer of National Song remembered". Cayman iNews. Archived from the original on 2019-12-30. Retrieved 2019-12-30.
- ^ Winker, Carol (27 September 2018). "Singing the praises of National Song composer". The Cayman Compass. Archived from the original on 2019-12-30. Retrieved 2019-12-30.
- "National Song". Cayman Island Government. Archived from the original on 25 November 2019. Retrieved 30 December 2019.