The house was ringing with chatter from the party, but it was muffled from the blanket the little girl had over her head. She was hiding under her bed avoiding the company at all costs. She was much too shy, and the only company she would entertain were the voices on air like Donnie Simpson the Love Bug announcing the latest Motown hits.
“It’s your man, the Love Bug, Donnie Simpson wait right here for a real classic from The Supremes that’ll have you dancing all night long!” The radio buzzed as the familiar tune of “Stop! In the Name of Love” started playing.
The little girl let out a squeal of joy and whisper-sung along to the lyrics.
Click click click
The girl turned the dial and the volume grew louder. The chatter became a light hum, and the melodic voice of Diana Ross filled the space.
“Shirley,” her mother’s voice interrupted “you better turn that radio down we have guests!”
Shirley sighed, resigned and abided by her mother’s wishes.
Growing up for most of her childhood on a street away from Motown Records, music was the fabric of Shirley Ellis’s life. With her mom, an avid Motown fan and her dad, a jazz guy, there was always music in her home. Outside of the home, the streets of Detroit contained the beating heart of Motown filled with soul crushing, sacred rhythm and blues in every nook and cranny of the city. The on-air personalities were not only missionaries of music, but they were friendly presences in the community. Shirley would always run home from school to sit on her bed and turn on the radio, craving the comradery she found when listening that she didn’t find in the kids at school. It would turn out to be a shock to some that she would have an on-air name herself because of her shyness, but not to Shirley.
Shirley had always known her creativity would translate into a career in the media. She went on to get her degree in Mass Communications at the University of Detroit where she worked at a little TV station until she moved back to Macon again.
While she hadn’t worked in radio yet, she was pointed in the direction of big George of WIBB by a friend of her moms who knew her love of radio. She already had a job at Channel 13, but to Shirley one more job couldn’t hurt. After just one interview, big George was quick to ask: Can you start tomorrow?
Big George and the people at WIBB took Shirley into their family. They taught her everything from copywriting to using turn tables and switchboards, but most importantly they helped her find her voice. Trademarked at first as Lynn Love and Sister Shirley, Shirley began to develop a radio personality of her own.
As soon as Shirley stepped into the studio and got in front of the mic it was like stepping into a dream. She became that little girl again who ran home to the radio and devoured every word and song. When the on-air sign lit up red, all her shyness dissipated, and she paved her legacy as a legend in the radio business and Macon too.
It became clear, Shirley’s purpose, even if she did not realize it at that moment. The kindness of big George and the WIBB family has allowed her to influence so many others. Shirley has passed down this kindness in every pursuit she has done. But perhaps Shirleys aptitude for kindness started earlier in her childhood in Detroit.
Little Shirley watched as her sister combed and styled the girl from across the street’s hair. She had always seen her around, clothes streaked with dirt, and her hair not done. Her elbows were sharp and her cheekbones even sharper. It wasn’t long after that her sister sought her out and told her to come over.
This was not the first time her sister had done something like this. Every time she would see a kid around the neighborhood who needed a mother’s touch, some food in their belly, or fresh clothes her sister provided it.
“Shirley,” she would say “not everyone can be as fortunate as we are. A little kindness goes a long way. Remember that.”
Her sister finished up the last braid and handed the girl a mirror. The girl gasped, tears lining her eyes, but never falling as she covered her mouth.
“Oh my, thank you so much,” the girl exclaimed.
Her sister put her hands on the girls’ shoulders, lips curling into a warm smile as she gazed at the reflection of the girl in the mirror.
“You look beautiful,” her sister said.
Little Shirley’s heart warmed as she watched the moment unfold. She never knew such a small act could be so rewarding and fill someone’s heart with such joy. Her sister was right, a little kindness does go a long way.
When Shirley got the job at Fort Valley State to manage their TV station in 1988, she saw it as an opportunity to influence people the way her sister did the kids in her neighborhood and like big George influenced her.
She got straight to work. Her first goal was to create a college radio station, as many other colleges had stations. While researching how to achieve this she was simultaneously winning awards for the TV station at Fort Valley State. Gradually after years of working on it, Shirley gathered the grants and funding to get the equipment and buy a station. The station grew bigger and bigger, and she was able to send many of her students on to work at radio stations in Macon.
Shirley provided a pathway for her student’s success. She poured everything she knew into them and worked tirelessly to provide them with opportunities like she had gotten once. From talk shows in NYC to interviews with Oprah Winfrey’s dad, the kids at Fort Valley State who had the opportunity to learn under Shirley were very lucky. For 35 years, she was a shepherd of student’s success. She boasts of what they went on to do while brushing aside her own impressive resume.
Students would come to Fort Valley State just to flourish under Shirleys wisdom after recognizing the heights they could reach under such a seasoned veteran in the media business. Some students became top sports anchors in their communities and others worked under big name celebrities like Nicki Minaj. However, Shirleys invaluable guidance was not recognized by all.
When the university made budget cuts, after over thirty years at the job Shirley was let go. Instead of respecting the work Shirley had done over the years, her legacy was jeopardized.
Shirley shook hands with the person that was taking over her program at Fort Valley. With the addition of budget cuts, the university also had plans to make changes to the entire department.
“It is nice to meet you. I have heard so much about you. I know you did not have much experience in TV, but it is impressive the impact you have had during your years here. The students speak so highly of you,” the man said with a smile.
“Excuse you?” Shirley said taken aback.
The man scrunched his eyebrows, clearly confused.
“I’m sorry If I offended you,” the man said “my intentions were good I-”
“Sir,” Shirley cut him off “I came from Channel 13. I built up your TV station to become one of the best things this university has to offer. I understand that the university is looking to make some changes to the department, but don’t tear down my legacy in the process. I have gotten my students jobs, put them on planes, taken them to different states every year, and written my own shows for this program. I raised the money, and I did the work. There wouldn’t even be a radio station here if it weren’t for me. You are going to tell me I don’t have experience in TV? Get real. You can take the job do whatever you want with it, but don’t erase my legacy,” Shirley scoffed and spun on her heel.
During the battle to protect her legacy, Shirley received an outpouring of support from the community. People wrote letters to the university, posted on social media, and 13WMAZ ran a story that included student interviews about Shirleys impact. The community rallied around Shirley which spoke to her incredible legacy in a way more powerful than a simple google search could.
Shirley could never regret her experience at Fort Valley State even if it ended on a sour note. While she could have easily chosen to build her own career to new heights, being at Fort Valley allowed her to help so many people realize their passions and succeed in careers in so many areas.
Her nurturing nature is reflected in her radio name: Mama Mia. A name that she had gotten after her stations were sold, and they had wanted her to come back to radio. Listeners would call the request line and ask for Mama Mia, and the name stuck. Shirley wanted to come off as a friend over air like the radio personalities when she grew up were. Not as much as a diva like some can be, but someone who comes across as family even. Everywhere Shirley would go around Macon, people would recognize her. Some would ask for a hug or autograph when they saw her on the streets.
Even off the air, she goes the extra mile for the community. During the holidays, she helps give Christmas presents to kids with cancer.
Shirley noticed a little boy at the function, and he was wearing headphones tapping his fingers against his leg. She tapped him on the shoulder, and he looked up at her sliding his headphones off his ears.
“Hey there, do you listen to the radio?” Shiley asked.
“Yes, I love radio. I like DJ Smooth the best,” the boy said beaming.
“Is that right? Have you ever been to a radio station?” Shirley questioned.
“No,” the boy shook his head.
“Tell you what,” Shirley said “you are going to go to a radio station. I promise you.”
She went to find his mother and asked her to tell Shirley everything about the little boy like his favorite food, candy, football team, and color. Not long after the exchange, Shirley got the entire studio decorated in his favorite colors and had all the kids she knew to bring gifts for the boy. Shirley gathered the media, important community members, and even special guest DJ Smooth to attend.
The little boy, so sick that he was in a wheelchair when he arrived at the station, got to be a DJ for the day. He got to go on the air with his very own radio name. Just a few short weeks later, the boy passed away.
Shirley Ellis is in the field of making dreams come true. She spreads kindness wherever she goes. Even though her achievements in radio were so substantial it earned her a spot in the Georgia Radio Hall of Fame, arguably her most important contributions have been from her impressions she has made on people and the dreams she has helped make come true.
A true Macon legend, Shirley Ellis’ legacy is preserved throughout the entire community. She is a dreamer, a sister, a radio and TV professional, a mentor, a friend, and the Mama of her community. Her seeds of kindness grow all over Macon and beyond and inspires people everywhere as her sister and big George once inspired her.
DISCLAIMER: The scenes of this article are fleshed out from an interview with Shirley. Based on real events described by Shirley Ellis.
