Chamber honors Fort Mill educators, staff and volunteers

Fort Mill resident Eloise Miller’s family farm has a rich history that will forever be kept alive thanks to her dedication.

Miller, 96, was named the 2016 Murray B. White Preservationist of the Year during the annual Education and Volunteer awards sponsored by the Fort Mill Area Council and York County Regional Chamber April 25. The annual awards program honors teachers and support staff, top students and local community members who give back.

The Nation Ford Land Trust accepted a conservation easement on 53 acres of Miller’s farm in January, Murray White said. He said the trust has protected more than 10,000 acres of land in York County over the past 25 years.

“But this was something special,” Murray said.

Miller’s grandfather, Ned Miller, was an emancipated slave who began acquiring land in the 1870s and 1880s, eventually growing his farm to more than 200 acres. Miller still owns the 100 acres that remain of the farm where she was born.

“Freed slaves didn’t buy land, that just didn’t happen,” White said.

“This is probably one of the most significant land conservation activities that has occurred in the state of South Carolina and North Carolina and it was because this lady realized the importance of that more than 20 years ago.”

Miller’s effort was to ensure part of her family farm is protected as open space in the quickly growing York County area, according to the awards program. The project is funded by the S.C. Conservation Bank and the York County Forever Commission.

Fort Mill officer Johnathan Gilbert was awarded the 2016 Public Safety and Awareness Service Award, which honors an individual who promotes education, training and awareness of critical needs impacting county residents and businesses, said Troy Moss with Allstate Insurance, the award sponsor.

“Fort Mill is the best town in South Carolina,” Gilbert said. “I feel honored and privileged to be able to serve you guys.”

The Civic Volunteer of the Year was Chip Smith, chairman and founder of Education Equals Hope, an organization that provides education and spiritual mentoring to children around the world, according to the awards program. His organization raised more than $300,000 last year from the Fort Mill community to support students in Ecuador, Haiti and Uganda, Smith said.

“Education in third world countries is not a grant or a right like it is here; it’s an honor,” he said. “We support children who would never be able to attend school.”

Natalie Llima Chuck, a 2016 graduate of Nation Ford High School, is an editor and producer of Nation Ford’s broadcasting program, Spirit Club president and creator of Pennies for Paris, a school-wide fundraiser supporting victims of the Paris shootings, said Harvey Hawkins with South State Bank, the award sponsor.

She was named the 2016 Young Citizen of the Year.

“I would hope to be here in about 20 years because I can almost promise you that she’ll be the recipient of other lifetime and very good achievement awards,” Hawkins said.

Fort Mill School Board Chairman Patrick White was chosen as the 2016 Citizen of the Year.

“As everybody knows, Fort Mill’s got a lot of challenges right now, but I really see those as opportunities,” he said.

“It’s incumbent upon the school district, the Town of Fort Mill, Tega Cay and the business community to keep working on those issues so that in 25 years this is still a great place to live.”

Murray White, a Fort Mill native, received the 2016 Lifetime Achievement Award. White was a member of the U.S. Army and served on the S.C. Army National Guard until he retired in 1989, said Wil Plyler with Nationwide, which sponsored the award.

White has also been involved in numerous community groups over the past 75 years and is the current president of the Sons of the American Revolution.

“What I’ve done is doing what you’re supposed to do,” he said. “You give back.”

The top five seniors from both Fort Mill High School and Nation Ford High School were also honored.

“Our elementary and middle schools do a fabulous job of preparing our students for success in high school,” said Fort Mill High School principal Dee Christopher.

This story was originally published April 29, 2016 at 8:15 PM with the headline "Chamber honors Fort Mill educators, staff and volunteers."