Elease Milton, born on January 25, 1924 to the union of Clifford
and Fannie Caldwell, was a native of Champaign, Illinois. Elease
was the mother of three daughters, nine grandchildren and one
great-granddaughter.
Elease was a member of the Salem Baptist Church for 63 years
and during this time she taught Sunday school, assisted in the
nursery, was a member of the Gospel & Majestic Choirs and
an usher. She served as Chairperson for the annual Women's Day,
Pastor's and Church's anniversaries on many occasions. Elease
attended the Baptist General State Convention and Workshop to
obtain first-aid certification for the Nurses Guild where she
was Vice-President. She was a member of the Flower Guild which
decorates the church with floral arrangements on special occasions.
Elease was a member of the Salem Baptist Trustee Board where she
took part in the 1999 auditing of the church's belongings.
Elease's love of mankind did not stop at Salem Baptist Church
by any means. She was well known at the local nursing and senior
homes where she often visited the sick and shut-ins; she worked
for the March of Dimes, as election Judge for the Champaign County
Elections, was President of the Champaign Park District's Douglass
Center Senior Program for two consecutive years, and 1999 Chairman
of the Park District's Annual Douglass Center Senior Style Show
which yielded $2000+.
Two of Elease's most memorable moments that benefitted herself
and the community include: (1) organizing the block club, "Attucks
Place for Concerned Citizens", in 1994 for which she was
a past President. (2) She attended Parkland Community College
in her mid-60s and obtained an Associate Degree in Child Development.
Later, she went on to teach the "Get Ready" class where
she was awarded a certificate. Along with her diploma from college,
Elease was awarded the "Urban League for Continuing Education"
plaque and the "Seniors in Community Service Programs Outstanding
Senior of the Year" certificate.
Sister Elease Milton
)
denotes original charter members of the Champaign County Section
of the National Council of Negro Women.