Honoree–Patricia L. Millender
A Life of Creativity, Service, and Community
Most of my adult life has been spent in creative and service—driven work. From my early days as a Girl Scout leader when my daughters were young– despite them being nine years apart to teaching special education in Detroit Public Schools, I have always found joy in nurturing and inspiring others. I later returned to Girl Scouts, with the next generation, as a Daisy and Brownie Leader for both of my granddaughters. For 25 of the last 40 years, I was immersed in the art of pottery at Pewabic Pottery. In the past 17 years, my artistic focus has shifted to quilting and doll making, participating in art clubs throughout the greater metropolitan area.
Being a Girl Scout since the age of seven instilled in me a deep commitment to service. Even when living in Mexico for three years and later in Arlington,TX, I continued working with young girls, teaching crafts and fostering creativity.
When my family returned to Detroit, we joined Plymouth United Church of Christ, where I sang for five years in the Gospel Choir, and helped prepare Sunday breakfasts, where I was in charge of making sure that the grits were not lumpy.
Later, I spent 20 years singing with the Renaissance Choir, and cooking when we served the homeless-until the pandemic ended that chapter for me.
Beyond music, my passion for cooking became another way to contribute. I prepared dishes for the church’s Taste Fest, including my signature Chicken Tortilla Soup, Chicken and Dumplings, Meatloaf, and my specialty, Spaghetti Vesuvius-they always sold out! Today, I continue to support the church by preparing treats for the bake sale after the first Sunday service.
It was my honor and privilege to travel with the church’s Travel Ministry to South Africa and Ghana. I also traveled to Washington D.C. by bus taking my three young grandchildren ages 3, 5, and 7 with the Sunday School.
My love for quilting also became a way to give back. I created two quilts for the church: one with Karla Middlebrooks for a Women’s Retreat and another with the Sunday School children to celebrate the church’s 100th anniversary. For five years, I led a free adult craft program for members and their friends, teaching jewelry making, scrapbooking, sewing, doll making, and quilting. After the basement flooded, the craft group ended, however my big quilt group welcomed three of the church’s quilters.
Over the years, I have also assisted Marian Stephens in keeping the Narthex walls adorned with meaningful artwork. Additionally, I served on the maintenance and property committee for six years, playing a key role in supervising the installation of new pews when they were gifted to us.
One of the greatest honors of my life was coordinating a weeklong summer camp for children. Marian Stephens initiated it and asked me to be her co-pilot. After our first successful year, she passed the torch to me, and I embraced the challenge wholeheartedly for five summers. I rallied a team of talented friends-painters, clay artists, quilters, dancers, yoga teachers, musicians, storytellers, cooks, Ministers and anyone who simply loved working with children.
We took cultural trips, engaged in hands-on creative activities, and even incorporated a reading and writing component led by Maxine Rushing where children read stories, wrote plays, and performed them. We divided the children into three groups:
- Young Children: Kindergarten & 1st grade
- Middle Group: 2nd – 5th grade
- Older Group: 6th – 8th grade And
WE DID EVERYTHING!
Through every role, I have taken on-whether as an artist, teacher, choir member, cook, or mentor-my mission has always been to create, inspire, and serve. It has been a privilege to contribute to my church community in so many meaningful ways, and I look forward to continuing this journey of creativity and service for years to come.
