What’s Up Miss Lil: Harlem Celebrates The Lives And Legacies Of Two Faithful Servants

By Lil Nickelson

Salem United Methodist Church (“SUMC”) is located at 2190 Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. Blvd, on the Northwest corner of 129^th Street in Harlem, NY.

It was the site of two celebrations of the lives and legacies of two faithful servants to the Harlem community who were unsung heroes. The charitable deeds of the late Barbara Ellison Miller and the late Geoffrey Eric Eaton in Harlem impacted many residents that may not realize the important roles these faithful servants played in making their everyday lives better.

Barbara Ellison Miller

Barbara Ellison Miller had for over 50 years worshiped at SUMC since she was in middle school and was a faithful member of the church’s Hunger Relief ministry. The ministry’s mission is to minister to the needs of those who are unable to care for themselves by feeding the hungry and clothing the naked. In 2010 Barbara had a lot of time on my hands after she left work as a Project Manager for Verizon. Barbara had no prior grant writing experience, but she asked for church leaders’ approval for her to apply for some grants for the ministry, and they gave her their blessings. She knew the church had the physical space there to serve our surrounding community and look what God did.

The ministry built a rooftop garden with grants obtained that enabled them to grow eggplants, fresh herbs or any other produce that crossed their minds. Until her recent illness and transition to be with the Lord, SUMC’s Hunger Relief ministry served as a food bank and gave out groceries starting at 10 am once a week every week they gave away bags of meat, fruit, produce, dairy, eggs, orange juice and naturally can goods too.

Most houses of worship closed their buildings to worship services in March 2020 when COVID-19 invaded our state and Gov. Cuomo put New York State on pause. Before COVID-19 each Wednesday the church operated a soup kitchen in their fellowship hall. By the summer of 2020, SUMC Hunger Relief ministry sprang to action and they started giving away 9,700 take-home cold meals in total over five days a week (Tuesday through Saturday) starting at 11 am that was supplied mainly by the restaurants selected by a collaboration of church officials and staff from Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce (“GHCC”) and the financial sponsor, Brooklyn born non-profit food group Rethinks Food NYC.

For Thanksgiving SUMC would distribute over eight hundred turkeys along with a box of fixings and sides supplied by their fresh produce pantry partners. Most of the seniors would be assisted home by ministry volunteers because they were given that much fresh food. The next time you pass by the church please say a prayer that God will anoint another member to accept the banner. Barbara Ellison Miller picked it up when Sister Bitha Alexander relocated out of NY some years before she became a soldier in God’s army to help those in need. You did your thang Barbara and Harlem appreciates you forever.

Geoffrey Eric Eaton

Geoff was born, and raised in Harlem and into a career of public service by his late parents. He faithfully worked for Harlem residents through his many years of having served as Chief of Staff to the long-served legendary U.S. Congressman, the Honorable Charles B. Rangel. He oversaw the day-to-day management and operations of the Washington, D.C., and New York offices. He sat on the board of directors of several boards that impacted all aspects of Harlem residents’ lives including the New York Empowerment Zone, Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone, Harlem Community Development Corporation, and West Harlem Development Corporation as Congressman Rangel’s designee.

Through those same years, Geoff also served key civic, cultural and community organizations, including Harlem Arts Alliance, The City College of New York (CCNY) President’s Executive Board, and was a senior advisor to the board of HARLEM WEEK, Inc., where he worked closely with his godfather, Lloyd Williams.

Geoff was blessed to have worked closely with Hon. Percy Sutton, Hon. Basil A. Paterson, Hon. David Paterson, Hon. Keith T. Wright, Hon. Inez Dickens, Hon. Mark Green, Voza Rivers, Jackie Rowe-Adams, Philip Reed, and The Last Poets. Congressman Gregory Meeks from Queens attended to celebrate the friendship and assistance he received from Geoff as he ascended to his position.

When the congressman retired Geoff ramped up his work with another of his mentors, Hon. Hazel N. Dukes, president of the NAACP New York Conference and member of the executive committee of NAACP national board of directors. In 2011 Geoff became president of the NAACP Mid-Manhattan Branch as well as serve as first vice president of the NAACP New York Conference.

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In recent years he served as Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine (TouroCOM) & The Touro College of Pharmacy (TCOP)’s Director of Community Affairs & Diversity. In this role Geoff supported the college’s goals of vastly improving the health of Harlem residents by fostering more community and student engagement within the Harlem community. Enrollment was also increased during his tenure of underrepresented people into several programs. A college representative stated that a scholarship was renamed the Michael Harding/Geoffrey Eaton Scholarship Fund.

Geoff always greeted people along the way with a smile and a sincere desire to be of assistance. I met Geoff in a social setting through one of his fraternity brothers. James Vaughn, master of the Prince Hall Mason Royal Lodge #1, and several other fraternal brothers stood to salute their brother. Charles Rangel, at 94 years old and was visibly shaken stated how Geoff even worked on things he did not assign to him because he came from good stock, and he cared about the people of Harlem.

The church was crowded with many political, civic, and academic leaders, as well as cultural organization representatives and media representatives such as me. The very last reflections came from 92-year-old Hon. Hazel N. Dukes, Flecked by some of her “men she has mentored” like Geoff, she recalled how Geoff would work for the congressman all day, but would come by her home around 8 pm to work into the night on one thing or another; as long as she had some fried chicken ready for him when he arrived. She concluded that she was going to miss him dearly before taking her seat.

Three and a half hours has passed before the eulogy was preached by Rev. S. Raschaad Haggard, Ph.D. He stated his words would be brief because with all the reflections, memories and public expressions that were shared, what more could be said about Geoff? We are here today because he lived, not because he died. His mind was always focused on Harlem. The repass was held at Londel’s restaurant after the service concluded.

Lil Nickelson

Lil Nickelson is a Senior Consultant with an MBA degree focused on Finance and Financial Management Services from New York University, Leonard N. Stern School of Business. Skilled in sales, management, business development, marketing strategy, and social media, with a history of working in the food and beverages industry. Her column “Dining with Miss Lil” has been featured in Harlem newspapers and with Harlem World Magazine for numerous years.

Photo Credits: Facebook pages of Barbara E. Miller and Geoffrey Eaton.