1995 - Frances Ryan Millward
GRINDSTONE AWARD
1995

 

Frances Ryan
Millward
For a limited number of "giving" people, "family" and "family values" are not just popular concepts but are the very cornerstones of their lives.

One of these selfless persons is Frances R. "Frannie" Millward, devoted and dedicated caregiver, and the 30th winner of the Grindstone Award for Distinguished Public Service.

Frannie has long contributed, directly and indirectly, to the welfare of persons of all races, ages, cultures, traditions and religions with skilled and compassionate attention to both their physical and spiritual needs. For many years her efforts have made Berea a better place to live and have enriched the quality of our lives here.

Born Frances, but long known as "Frannie" by her hosts of friends, she was brought up and went to school on Cleveland's west side. She has degrees from Schauffler College and Oberlin Seminary.

She has devoted all her adult life to social services, both as a professional and as a volunteer. But her long hours, her one-on-one approach, working weekends, innovativeness and dedication to going by the "job" instead of going by the "book" have consistently blurred the distinction between pro and volunteer.

Frannie worked for many years in the field of Christian Religious Education, serving in that capacity at St. Thomas Episcopal Church and First Congregational United Church of Christ in Berea, at Olmsted Falls Community Church, and at several other large churches on Cleveland's east and west sides. While serving in these positions, especially with youth, she was responsible for starting the TORCH program for troubled teenagers in the 1970's, one of the area's oldest and most successful youth help programs.

In recent years, Frannie has retired from Christian Education. But, by no means has she retired from serving others. In 1986 she started an extensive new operation called Church Street Ministries, a cooperative venture dedicated to providing support for youths and adults suffering from addictions, homelessness and dysfunctional family life. Here she has added hundreds more to her "family."

Frannie Millward, her late husband Hal and their three children, have lived in and served Berea for more than 40 years.

It is fitting and apropos to end this tribute to Frances Ryan Millward with a quotation from Albert Schweitzer: "There is no higher religion than human service."
Presented April 13, 1996 Holiday Inn, Middleburg Heights