There has been widespread sadness following the death of Mrs. Elizabeth Maude Millar (or Maude as she was widely known) who passed away peacefully in Gillbrooke Nursing Home, Fivemiletown on Thursday, June 3, 2021.

Maude was born on December 30, 1927 to David and Elizabeth (Lilly) Baird, and was younger sister to James. Her father David had given long service to the R.U.C., firstly as personal escort to Sir James Craig (ex prime minister to the old Stormont Government) and later to the Detective Staff in Belfast.

Maude was educated and worked in Belfast until she married Matthew (Matt) Millar from Straid, Ballyclare on August 2, 1950. They finally settled in Derryhoney, Lisbellaw where Matt worked for the Ministry of Agriculture.

Maude joined the Civil Service and worked for 25 years as an interviewer with the Statistics and Economics unit in Fermanagh and Tyrone. They had one son, John who now works for Balcas Energy and lives near Fintona.

After retiring from farming, where he worked part time, Matt and Maude came to reside near Tempo, where Matt passed away on June 17, 1992. Maude continued to live at Tempo with her very dear friend, Nicola Elliott until July 4, 2018 when Maude's dementia made it impossible to continue living at home.

Among Maude's many interests were the NSPCC which she was involved in for quite a few years, the Women Aglow fellowship which is an international, inter-denominational organisation where she was a Founder Member and Past president and also a member of the Praise and Worship Team. She was also a Lay Panel Member for the Juvenile Courts in Fermanagh and Tyrone, a visitor for Victim Support for Fermanagh, Justice of the Peace for Fermanagh and Tyrone and she was also connected with Aghanoon Christian ministry.

It is fair to say that Maude was widely accepted as a woman of integrity, a reputation of which she was justifiably proud. She held high Christian principles and chose the deeper and quieter walk with God rather than forefront action.

Maude's love and concern for children and teenagers alike, her concern for the welfare of all, and her hopes for reconciliation between denominations were her main focuses. She was often heard to say “don’t expect anything from people, just accept them where they are and for what they are – just as they are”.

Maude's funeral took place on Saturday, June 5 and was very capably carried out by SR Elliott Funeral Directors. The Minister was the Rev Rodney Beacom and Maude was laid to rest beside her husband Matt at Maguiresbridge Presbyterian Church.