Lori Lightfoot was born in 1962, daughter of former Massillon Board of Education member Ann Lightfoot, and Elijah Lightfoot.
At Washington High School, Lori was class president for three years, and participated in marching band, choir, girl's basketball, softball, track. President of the pep club and finalist for Miss Massillonian, Lori graduated in 1980.
She graduated from the University of Michigan, and earned her Jurist Doctorate at the University of Chicago.
She was hired as legal assistant for Congressman Ralph Regula in Washington DC. She previously worked for the City of Chicago in the Office of Professional Standards, Emergency, Management and Communications, and Department of Procurement Services. Lori served as law clerk in the Michigan Supreme Court, and was assistant US Attorney in the Criminal Division of the Northern District of the State of Illinois. elected as Chicago's 56th mayor in 2019, the first Black woman to hold that office.
In 2013 Lori Lightfoot was named a Washington High School Distinguished Citizen. Lori lives with her wife Amy Eshleman and daughter Vivian.