Honored
City clerk is Person of the Year
The long-term and consistent contributions to the Romulus community by City Clerk Ellen Craig-Bragg were recognized and honored last week as she was named Person of the Year by the Romulus Chamber of Commerce.
Craig-Bragg’s history of service includes her more than 15 years as city clerk and her previous term on the city council but her history of dedication to her community service goes far beyond her professional expertise, noted Mark Lewkowicz who acted as emcee at a Chamber of Commerce banquet honoring Craig-Bragg last week.
Honors, formal resolutions and awards were presented to Craig-Bragg by Romulus Mayor Robert McCraight; State Sen. Darrin Camilleri; Mayor Pro tem Tina Talley, Jazmine Danci of the Romulus Rotary Club; the Rev. John Cole of Union Grove Baptist Church; Carolyn Jones of the American Progressive Association and the Rev. Arthur Willis, among many
others.
Each presenter detailed Craig-Bragg’s history and dedication to volunteer work in the community and her church. While she was honored as the 2021 City Clerk of the Year by the Michigan Association of Municipal Clerks, her service, several presenters noted, goes far beyond her recognized professional expertise.
Her history of service began years ago in the Romulus Community Schools where she started as an aide and parent volunteer at Halecreek Elementary School. She worked as a substitute teacher coordinator in the school board office and eventually became the secretary in the Guidance and Counseling office at the high school. She coached cheerleading for the Romulus flyers and led programs at the local Boys and Girls Club prior to her service on the city council. She co-chaired the Martin Luther King Day celebration and the Juneteenth program and she is an active member of the volunteer Romulus Drug Task Force.
The celebration would not have been complete, however, without a nod to Craig-Bragg’s musical background. She has served as the entertainment coordinator for the traditional Pumpkin Festival and as the Music Minister at Union Baptist Church where her family worships.
She is uniquely qualified for the music ministry as the daughter of a recording artist and member of the Merced Blue Notes during the 1950s. In addition to her father’s musical career, her mother is a well-known gospel singer.
While attending Merrit College in California, Craig-Bragg sang with the Oakland Symphony Chorus. Her musical history also includes her time in Frankfurt, Germany where her husband was stationed during his military career. She was the music director for the Atterberry Military Chapel and led the 97th General Hospital Chapel programs. The five choirs she led performed in community events and concerts throughout Germany.
Closer to home, Craig-Bragg has performed the national anthem at multiple civic celebrations and memorials including Wreaths Across America and Veterans Day celebrations.
During the multiple awards presented to Craig-Bragg, her exceptional volunteer work in the community was repeatedly noted by dignitaries noting the honor was “deeply deserved.” The evening included musical performances in tribute to Craig-Bragg.
Fellow city and township clerks from several local communities were in attendance honoring Craig-Bragg along with multiple area dignitaries and her devoted family.
“An honor that is incredibly well deserved. Ellen’s dedication to public service and commitment to the Romulus community continue to make a real difference every day,” Lewkowicz noted as the crowd stood for multiple standing ovations to Craig-Bragg’s career of community service.
