Ashro Woman: Shirley
Meet Ashro Woman of the Week, Shirley from Lorain, OH
If you love hats, you’ll love Shirley!
She is a milliner with a degree in fashion—and a deep confidence in her work. “As a child, my mother would let me create things and wear whatever I created. She taught me how to be confident.”
Shirley is also a woman with a heart for God and ministry. She’s president of the Northern Ohio Baptist District Association (NOBDA), member of Delta Sigma Theta—and a very wise mother too.
Her best advice? “Listen to your children when they have a problem. Just have a conversation with them where they do most of the talking. Then ask God what to say next.”
Now that’s true wisdom.
| Name | |
| Shirley G. | |
| Which city do you live? | |
| Lorain | |
| Which state do you live? | |
| OH | |
| How would you describe the Ashro woman? How do you embody her? | |
| The designs are fabulous. They directly fit into my needs and the occasions that I must attend. | |
| How long have you been an Ashro customer? | |
| 4 months. | |
| What do you do for a living? What do you like most about it? What don’t you like? | |
| I am a milliner. In the pass I was a fashion designer. Now I only produce hats. I have a website at holyhatsandfans.com where my complete bio my be viewed. I have three degrees one of which a fashion degree. I am currently retired from being a plant manager. | |
| How do you spend your free time? | |
| I am President of the (NOBDA) Northern Ohio Baptist District Association and I spen most of my free time leading women of this organization. | |
| What small thing makes you happy? | |
| Serving God in whatever capacity that I can. | |
| What is your best dish? Who do you make it for—and where do you typically serve it? | |
| Sour cream pound. I serve it at church, to my family and friends. | |
| What has been your greatest struggle…and your greatest (or latest) triumph? | |
| My greatest struggle has been learning how to live as a widow. My great triumph has been overcoming my fear of public speaking.. I am able to overcome that now. | |
| Who influenced you the most in your life. Why? And in what way? | |
| My mother has influenced me the most in my life. She taught me how to sew and be confident in whatever I created. | |
| Do you volunteer or do charity work? Tell us about it! | |
| Yes that is what the NOBDA is about doing ministry, especially women. We reachout in whatever community we visit. We visit a community at least 7 months out of the year. | |
| Are you in a sorority? Or is anyone in your family in a sorority? If so, which one and what does it mean to you? | |
| I am a member of Delta Sigma Theta where we reach and do community civil services and other ministry. Through delta is where I do most of my service. | |
| What do you love about fashion and style? | |
| I have always loved to do things that are different. As a child my mother would let me create things and wear whatever I created. I love to sew. My style would be considered conservatively couture. One of a kind items fir the fashionable woman. | |
| Has anyone in particular influenced your style? | |
| As a milliner I have been influenced by many British designers like Stephen Jones, at the same time reaching back looking at our strong heritage in the black community during the early part of the 19th century. | |
| What occasions/events do you dress up for? (for example-do you often dress up for church, cultural events, charity events, going out, etc.) And how often do you typically get dressed up? | |
| Church, cultural, and charity events such as: special board meetings, luncheon, funerals, banquet, etc. I do this very often in my capacity as president of this organization, the NOBDA. It’s a part of my job to do so. | |
| How has your style evolved over time? | |
| It has influenced many of my customers. Who like unusual things. | |
| Do you wear hats? How often and what type of hat? Do you wear them to church? If so, be sure to share a pic of you in a hat with us! | |
| Yes, I wear hats most of the time in both casual and dressy occasions. I wear caps as well as church style hats. I wear feathered hats, headbands, fascinators, derby styles also. There is no limit to the styles I wear. By most of all I like making hats for others.l | |
| Do you wear headwraps? How often? Where did you learn how to tie it? Share a pic of you in a headwrap with us! | |
| Yes , but my headwraps are a little different than what you might think. I wear them for different occasions. I will share a picture. | |
| Do you wear wigs? How often and what length or style? If so, be sure to share a pic of you in a wig with us! | |
| I have worn a wig in the past but for the past 15 years I have worn sisterlocks. | |
| Are you a woman of faith? How does that faith affect your life? Please tell us more. | |
| Yes as you see my faith in God influences everything I do. I have donated much of my time volunteering in many different capacities as church clerk, church trustee, church financial secretary, singing in the choir, and working on committee’s to enrich ministries in the church. I work wherever I’m needed. | |
| Do you attend church? What church do you go to and what do you love most about it? | |
| I attend Second Baptist Church if Elyria, Ohio. Currently they have allowed me to put most of my energy into leading the women of the NOBDA which is comprised of 70 churches throughout northern I Ohio. Yet I am still attend my church regularly. I also visit chuches throughout the area, when I can.. | |
| How are you passing along your faith traditions onto your children/grandchildren? | |
| By reminding them that their help comes from above. That they must pray and trust God. To know how to trust Him, they must read and study the Bible. | |
| Are you a First Lady or a Pastor? | |
| No | |
| If yes, tell us about it. | |
| I was an associate ministers wife. | |
| Your best advice? | |
| Seek God’s advice by reading the Bible. | |
| What lessons has motherhood (or being a grandmother) taught you? | |
| Listen to your children when they have a problem. Just have a conversation with them where they do most of the talking. Then ask God what to say next. | |
| Are you an Ashro Credit customer? If so, how has our credit helped you? | |
| It has helped me to balance my budget and yet take care of my needs. | |
| Do you have a memory to share of when you first heard about Ashro or when you received your first catalog? | |
| First I was just looking at my daughter in law’s catalog admiring the beautiful outfits until I had a need to expand my wardrobe. |
Thanks for inspiring us, Shirley!
If you’d like a chance to be a future Ashro Woman of the Week, share your story with us — then watch your weekly Ashro emails to see if you’re featured next! Already filled out our questionnaire? Then you’re all set (you may see yourself featured in next week’s email)! Make sure to tell your friends and family to sign up for emails. We can’t wait to see you!
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4 responses to “Ashro Woman: Shirley”
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I am not please with Ashro at this time. I have been a loyal customer with Ashro for many years, purchasing clothes and shose for myself and my husband. My recent order was in March 2026 of two items totaling $234.10. One of the item was not longer available, when I received the other item it was the wrong item. I then realized the item did not belong to me. The receipt information was for a Ms. Jones of Arizona, but the item was shipped to me in Texas and the item was a extra plus size, I am a large. After speaking with a rep he told me he will send me a free shipping label and if I return the item within 30 days they will replace my item for free. Well that was not the case, I returned the item and eventully did received mine which cost $149, as to date my current balance for this one item is $207.27. I called back Ashro and was told they cannot honor the rep’s. offer and I am responsable for the balance on my account. Ashro is a large company with very expensive products and it will belittle them if they cannot honor the offer of their train reps and delete the balance on my account. I thought you may be able to help me since you are promoting for them. Thank you
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Thank you for taking the time to share your experience and for your feedback, Marva. We’re sorry to hear about the frustration this has caused. We will pass your feedback on to the Customer Service team to help improve future exchanges. We appreciate you flagging this and bringing it to our attention.
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Greetings Ms. How are you, do you teach milliner?
Sincerely
Marlene-
Hi Marlene,
Thank you for your comment. We have sent your question to Shirley.
We would love to hear from you more. Please fill out our Ashro Woman Questionnaire here: https://blog.ashro.com/ashro-women-questionnaire/Sincerely,
Your Friends at Ashro
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Categories: Ashro Woman Spotlights
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