Sister Elease Milton

Elease Milton, born on January 25, 1924 to the union of Clifford and Fannie Caldwell, was a native of Champaign, Illinois. She was the mother of three daughters, and also had nine grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.

Elease was a member of the Salem Baptist Church for 63 years. During this time, she taught Sunday school, assisted in the nursery, was a member of the Gospel & Majestic Choirs, and was 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, and (2) attending Parkland Community College in her mid-60s to obtain 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 passed away on October 24, 2002.