Shirley Brown Reeder is a retired educator from the Cleveland Metropolitan School District. Her early life and education is entrenched firmly in Elyria. She attended McKinley Elementary, Eastern Heights Jr. High, and Elyria High School. She lived on West Avenue for 60 years.

She had the opportunity to write for the Chronicle-Telegram during Elyria’s Bicentennial celebration. The exposure to so many interesting stories of African American families who moved to Elyria during the Great Migration prodded her to create the book Looking at Elyria history with Ebony Eyes. 

Inspired by an encounter with Michelle Obama, she was encouraged to produce the book and focused on the theme ‘My story is my power’. Looking at Elyria History with Ebony Eyes could be a catalyst for exploring and discussing the impact of African American migration on the city, its contributions to the past ans its implications for the future.