Who was Millie M. Crawford?

Millie M. Crawford

Dec 3, 1925 - Nov 26, 2020

Millie Marjorie Crawford, volunteer and avid support of IAH Studio, was born in Bath Village, Nevis on December 3rd, 1925. She was the youngest of two sisters from Alice and Alfred Morgan. When Millie was just two years old, her mother left Nevis to find work in Canada and later the USA—leaving Millie in the care of her father and oldest daughter. In December of 1944, Millie rejoined her mother at age 19 when she traveled from Nevis to New York for the first time. Along the journey, Millie made stops in Antigua, Dominican Republic, Cuba and Miami before finally reaching New York City.

Once settled, Millie completed her secondary education at an evening high school in Harlem, NY. She also attended secretarial school. After many years working for various companies and the Federal Government as a secretary, Millie obtained work as a pool secretary in the Department of Social Services, Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. She worked there for over 30 years and attained the position of supervisor and executive administrative assistant to the director. In 1986, she retired from this position and looked forward to leaving New York City for a more natural environment.

Millie married her first husband, Emerson Maynard, in 1948—a Nevisian who won approval from her “critical” mother. They had two children—Yvette and Alfred (deceased). In 1960, Millie married her second husband Lorenzo Crawford from West Virginia (an African American mixed with Native American Heritage). Millie and Lorenzo spent 42 years together (relocating from NYC to PA). Millie lived alone for nearly 20 years after Lorenzo succumbed to his illness in December 2002.

Known for her love of music cooking, gardening, knitting, traveling and spending time with her daughter and grandchildren, Millie was also an active participant in the local Senior Citizen Center, Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP), the American Association for Retired Persons (AARP) as well as the Tobyhanna United Methodist Church.

Millie leaves to mourn: loving daughter, Yvette; two granddaughters, Iymaani and Tasliym; seven nieces, Shirley, Sheila, Agnola, Alice, Earla, Gloria and Joan; six nephews, Halsted, Eston, Eustace, Lester, Vincent and Sonny; numerous great nieces and nephews and a host of cousins and friends. Mille will be greatly missed for being a kind, caring, proud and giving spirit. And let us not forget her delicious baked goods. May she rest in heavenly peace.