Dr. Shirley (Smith) Seaton

Dr. Shirley Seaton Obituary Dr. Shirley Smith Seaton, Ph.D., departed from this world peacefully in her sleep at Montefiore Assisted Living in Beachwood, Ohio on July 29, 2020. Shirley was born in Cleveland Ohio on December 1, 1924, the daughter of Cecil Susan Stone Smith and Kibble Clarence Smith. Dr. Seaton graduated from John Adams High School in Cleveland. She holds BA and MA degree in history from Howard University, and a second MA in education from Case Western Reserve University, EdD from the University of Akron and a certificate in Chinese history and culture from Beijing Normal University. Dr. Seaton served as an instructor and administrator at the K-12 and post-secondary levels, and she was the Director of Social Studies for Cleveland Public Schools. Dr. Seaton’s career in the Cleveland Schools included classroom teacher, assistant principal at Parkwood School and Lafayette School, principalship at Dyke School and Charles H. Lake School. She was the first black woman in Ohio with an educational TV program on WEWS-TV in 1962. As a Fulbright alumna she studied in Italy, China, Egypt and Africa. In her last roll at John Carroll University she relentlessly organized the Multicultural lecture series which is now named in her honor. She said, “College was the last chance we have in making sure people don’t enter the world with value systems based on prejudice they think of as truth.” Dr. Seaton received an outstanding educator award from Cleveland City Council, The Ohio of Representatives, U.S. Department of State and Humanitarian Award for Education from the Ohio Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Commission. She is listed in the Marquis Who’s Who in America, Who’s Who in Education, Who’s Who in Black Cleveland and was on the Board of Directors of the Western Reserve Historical Society and the Board of Directors of the Fulbright Association of Northeast Ohio. She holds memberships in the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Alpha Sigma Nu Honorary Society, National Alliance of Black School Educators, NAACP Life Member and the National Coalition of 100 Black Women. Shirley was preceded in death by her husband of 55 years, Joseph Lawrence Seaton. She is survived by her son Eric Dean Seaton, daughter-in-law Nicole, grandson Lourden Knight Seaton and granddaughter Legend Reign Seaton. There will be a memorial service in 2021 in her honor. In lieu of flowers please donate to the Western Reserve Historical Society in her name. DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC..SERVICES WILL BE HELD AT A LATER DATE. To plant a beautiful memorial tree in memory of Dr. Shirley (Smith) Seaton, please visit our Tree Store. Read More

Dr. Shirley (Smith) Seaton

December 1, 1924 - July 29, 2020