|
|
Elizabeth Horton Sheff (r.) accepts the Living Waters Award from Davida Foy Crabtree (l.) in May 2007. The award bowl was destroyed in the fire. |
How You Can Help |
|
1. Lift up Elizabeth, and all those suffering losses from fires, in your prayers. 2. Send gifts for Elizabeth, payable to the "Missionary Society of Connecticut," to the Connecticut Conference UCC, United Church Center, 125 Sherman St., Hartford, CT 06105. Please note "Elizabeth's Fund" in the memo section. |
by Cecile Gilson
HARTFORD (07/21/2010) -- One of the Connecticut Conference's most dynamic and courageous voices for social justice, Elizabeth Horton Sheff, lost her home in the devastating condominium fire on Hartford's Evergreen Avenue on July 9th. Sheff is coping, but is devastated by the loss of personal items that can never be replaced such as her mother’s Bible. The Conference staff offers its prayers as she lives into this new reality in her life.
Elizabeth Horton Sheff is probably best known for her part in the civil rights lawsuit, Sheff vs. O’Neill, which was begun in 1989 when her son, Milo, was a fourth grade student at the Annie Fisher School in Hartford. For a number of years, Elizabeth served as Minister for Just Peace Ministries for the Connecticut Conference. Currently, she is Director of Neighborhood Services at the Community Renewal Team in Hartford, assisting individuals and families secure basic needs. Elizabeth is a graduate of the Hartford Seminary Black Ministries Program.
As a member of Hartford’s City Council, Elizabeth has worked on a myriad of justice issues for the city’s residents. She has advocated for the rights of tenants in public housing and for persons living with AIDS; she has helped provide support and services for the growing numbers of city grandparents raising grandchildren; and she has worked to improve conditions for city children affected by asthma and lead poisoning.
Elizabeth’s was awarded the Living Waters Award from the Connecticut Conference in May of 2007. “The United Church of Christ has been the stabilizing force in my spiritual journey for justice,” she said.
She is a member of the Warburton Community Church, UCC, in Hartford. In addition to her work on the Conference staff, she has served on the Conference’s Public Education Committee, and has been co-chair for Public Education of the national Justice and Witness Ministry of the UCC. Elizabeth was also vice-president of the former United Church Board for World Ministries.
If you wish to contribute to Elizabeth Horton-Sheff’s fund please send a check made out to the “Missionary Society of CT” to the Connecticut Conference UCC, 125 Sherman Street, Hartford, CT 06105. Be sure to note this is for Elizabeth’s fund.
