Sat 10.23 at 11:30AM
A public memorial service for Mansfield Frazier will take place on Saturday, October 23, 2021 at the Maltz Performing Arts Center, 1855 Ansel Road, Cleveland, OH 44106. Admission is free and open to the public. Free public parking is available. All guests, staff, and speakers must show proof of vaccination or produce a negative test result within 72 hours of entering to be admitted into the venue. Masks are required at all times for visitors.
Viewing: 11:30AM
Memorial Service: 12:30PM
Conclusion: 2:30PM
Tickets for the viewing and service are recommended. Livestream tickets are also available for those unable to attend in person. Both can be found here.
Rather than flowers or gifts, the public is asked to make a donation to Neighborhood Solutions, Inc., the nonprofit organization that Mansfield Frazier created using innovative educational and entrepreneurial strategies to encourage, prepare and assist at-risk youth, veterans, and those returning — or who have returned — to neighborhoods after incarceration in creating greener, healthier and wealthier places to live, work and raise families.
To make a donation to Neighborhood Solutions, please click here.
Mansfield Frazier bio:
When Mansfield Frazier was growing up in Cleveland’s Central neighborhood in the 1950s, he had great expectations. His father, who ran a bar, provided for his family, and Mansfield was a good student with a natural gift for gab. He was accepted to The Ohio State University. But after a high school romance that resulted in a teenage marriage and a couple of kids, his life took a different direction.
For a while he worked in industry and was a skilled craftsman — as he said, the best on the job. But it was the 1960s. Every time there was a promotion to supervisor, a white guy whom Mansfield had trained got the job.
When his marriage broke up and he became totally frustrated with the discrimination in the workplace, he left Cleveland and spent the next 30 year operating for the most part outside of the law — mostly involved in credit card scams and con games. He was arrested 15 times and convicted 5 times. I still chuckle when I recall his anecdotes about his brushes with the law.
During his prison stints he used his time to read and expand his own education. His vocabulary was enhanced because sometimes the only book that he could get was a dictionary. He had a good working knowledge of the Bible because other times that was the only book available. When there was a prison library — like in The Shawshank Redemption — he read whatever he could get his hands on. He honed his writing skills. In 1995, he published his first book, From Behind The Wall: Commentary on Crime, Punishment, Race, and the Underclass by a Prison Inmate.
He started Château Hough, the winery and vineyard at 66th and Hough, so that he could hire formerly incarcerated people. He wanted to teach formerly incarcerated people a trade and show them that they did not have to go back to crime. If you wanted to turn your life around, Mansfield found a job for you. He started the non-profit Neighborhood Solutions to create re-entry programs for the formerly incarcerated, and they published the national magazine Reentry Advocate, distributed in prison libraries and some halfway houses throughout the country.
Mansfield passed away peacefully at the age of 78 in the home he built in the Hough neighborhood near his vineyard that has rehabilitated so many people returning from prison. He was surrounded by his wife Brenda and family members as he battled low blood pressure and kidney issues. A parade of friends, community organizers, politicians, those he mentored, and good folks from the non-profit community were grateful to be able to say goodbye.
Since 2007, Mansfield Frazier has written over 1400 commentaries for CoolCleveland. He continued to write, publish, podcast, create videos and advocate for social justice throughout his life.
Cleveland, OH 44106
8 Responses to “You Are Invited: Mansfield Frazier Memorial Service”
Sandra Bishop
I am so honored to have known Mansfield and called him my friend. We can all attest to how insightful and generous he was in word & deed. I hope that people see it is not about aiming for perfection or always being “good” that makes your life rich, it’s being authentic, having depth, the courage to show up and love. Mansfield was a great man. My condolences to you Brenda, his family & all of us who loved him.
Briggitte
What can i say about a man who literally changed my life?
What can I say about this man who took care of me for 10 years when i was unable to take care myself?
Whom for over 40 years has been my #1 confident( my good, my bad, and my ugly).
While i never heard Mansfield profess allegience to any particular religion or faith, Mansfield via his actions ( works) was one of Gods greatest disciples.
Mansfield is the only black man i know that was able to connect, CALL-OUT, communicate and operate within EVERY racial, social, economic and political arena without selling his soul: Mansfield truly represented & exemplified the BEST in us all….With all my love…Rest Dear: I’ll meet you at the crossroads…
Michelle Mikulski
I met Mansfield through my son, who had his share of troubles. I found Mansfield to be supportive, and warm, and a person who genuinely cared. I was touched, as Mansfield continued to check in on my son just to make sure things were going right, and to offer support or a shoulder if needed. He enjoyed my strawberry glazed pie, and always said if he knew I was making pie he’d take a ride to visit! So very sorry for your loss, and that of the community, he was a mighty force, and will be missed by many.
Sherldean Davis
Mr. Frazier and his wife were so gracious when I attend the Chateau of Hough this year as a part of The Common Ground Events. Mr Frazier had us captivated with his words and voice. My sympathies to his family.
Kate Uhlir
It was so good to learn of Mansfield’s bright light in the Hough neighborhood. I am so sorry to learn of his passing. Please, someone take up the yoke this great man has shouldered!
Lucy M McKernan
RIP, Mansfield. It was a pleasure to read his works, know he cared so much about the woefully underserved in our community, and to be interviewed by him on his WTAM radio show a few years ago. Mansfield didn’t care about the superficial; he cared about whether YOU cared. He was deeply curious about the human transformative process, in himself and in others, including those he helped. I’m honored and proud to have been acquainted with this giant of character. Mansfield LIVED the mantra: “be the change.” His ripple effect will be felt for decades to come.
Tiffani Sutton
I’m so saddened to hear of Mr. Mansfield’s passing. He was an absolute treasure and made a major impact in the community. It was always such a pleasure to converse with him – he was so wise and true to himself. I always learned something new after talking with him. Rest well Mr. Mansfield- you will be missed.
Audrey Wiggins
I met Mansfield during my grief of my mother’s death. I took a job a City News. He was a pensive man of great talent. We later reconnected as members of the Greater Cleveland Association of Black Journalists. where I recently met his daughter Ashley. His very presence was encouraging. he always smiled and yet when he spoke, he spoke with authority and passion. I was so excited to learn of Chateau Hough and had the opportunity to buy and share his wine. I thank God for having met such a man of his character and wealth of knowledge and fortitude. RIP my friend. Blessings to Brenda and all his family and loved ones.