Williams-Byers remarks gave honor to God, her parents and her loving husband. She thanked her sisters Shawn who coordinated the ceremony and Catrice (Pumpkin). She talked about the appreciation she had for her fellow Judges who showed up in full force to support her.

By JAMES W. WADE III

Staff Reporter

This past weekend history was made in the city of South Euclid as the honorable Gayle F. Williams-Byers was sworn in and became the first Black Judge elected to the city. Williams-Byers took the oath of office from one of her mentors Judge Shirley Strickland Saffold.

The main highlight of the night was the robing ceremony that featured the first Black female to the Ohio Supreme Court, Justice Yvette McGee Brown. The program included speakers Bill Mason Cuyahoga Prosecutor, State Senator Nina Turner, and Judge Maureen Clancy.

Judge Williams-Byers has always had an interest in the courtroom. Her High School teacher and Mock Trial coach Lori Eiler spoke about how Gayle always had the drive to be good.

Supreme Justice McGee Brown gave remarks and shared with Williams-Byers how to stay focused in the courtroom no matter how things may look. Judge McGee Brown shared with everyone “even having this terrible cold, I would have not missed this great ceremony for nothing in the world.”

Williams-Byers was born and raised in the Cleveland area and attended both Cleveland and East Cleveland Public Schools. She graduated from Shaw High School and matriculated to Case Western Reserve University where she earned an undergraduate degree in Political Science and Sociology. She returned to CWRU to earn dual Juris Doctorate and Master of Nonprofit Organizations degrees in 2000.

Gayle has previously served on the United States Clean Air Subcommittee as a Legislative Aide, working on issues related to Energy, Environment and Transportation legislation.

Currently, she serves as the Grand Jury and General Felony Supervisor in the office of the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor where she oversees the indictment of all felony cases committed throughout the county. Further, she supervises a unit of trial attorneys who are responsible for litigating several of the indicted cases.

In addition to her work at the Prosecutor’s office, Gayle serves as Adjunct Faculty at Cuyahoga Community College in the Department of Law Enforcement where she teaches a range of courses designed to lead students to their desired Associates Degree.

Gayle is extremely active in communities throughout the County and particularly in her home city of South Euclid where she has live for the past seven years. She is a member of the South Euclid Playground of Possibilities steering committee which is committed to providing the children of the city a playground equipped with the ability to service children of all play ranges and abilities. Additionally, she has been a guest lecturer on the topic of search and seizure at the South Euclid citizen’s police academy and has worked with the police department to design and teach a course on Parents and the Law.

Williams-Byers remarks gave honor to God, her parents and her loving husband. She thanked her sisters Shawn who coordinated the ceremony and Catrice (Pumpkin). She talked about the appreciation she had for her fellow Judges who showed up in full force to support her.

Her service continues with her volunteer work at the Beulah Baptist Church food pantry in the Collinwood area and her participation as a board member with the JD Breast Cancer Foundation, a local nonprofit organization that was founded to educate young women about breast cancer and provide financial assistance and grants to young women affected by the disease at times when they need it most.

Williams-Byers is the daughter of Rev. Dr. Albert E. Williams, Pastor of Beulah Baptist Church in Cleveland, Ohio where she serves in several ministries. Additionally, she is the wife of Gregory D. Byers, Jr. and proud mother to Gregory W. Byers, age 11.