The Michelle Edwards Initiative: The Friends of Titus Sparrow Park speaks with Cheryl Williams
Interviewed by Irwin Levy, Friends of Titus Sparrow Park Board Member
In this Community Corner I share the story of the Michelle Edwards Initiative, led by South End native Cheryl Williams. Cheryl is one of the driving forces behind this effort to honor basketball legend Michelle Edwards, who grew up playing at Titus Sparrow Park and went on to become a National Player of the Year, WNBA trailblazer, and Hall of Famer. I’m excited to highlight the plans to commemorate her legacy locally, including adding a name plaque at the park and future efforts such as a statue and an annual youth basketball clinic.
Michelle Edwards: From Titus Sparrow Park to the Hall of Fame
Michelle Edwards is one of the greatest basketball players of all time and a 2014 inductee into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame.
Born and raised in the South End, Michelle honed her basketball skills at our beloved Titus Sparrow Park. She played high school ball at Cathedral High School, becoming the first girls basketball player in Massachusetts to amass 2,000 career points.
She was recruited by Hall of Fame coach C. Vivian Stringer and attended the University of Iowa on a full scholarship. There, Michelle was:
A three-time All–Big Ten selection
Big Ten Player of the Year
National Player of the Year (1988)
The first Iowa Hawkeye to have her jersey retired
She was later named Big Ten Athlete of the Decade, inducted into the Iowa Hall of Fame in 2000, and recognized as one of Iowa’s Top 50 Athletes of the 20th Century.
Michelle was the second overall pick in the inaugural WNBA draft and went on to a storied professional career in both the United States and Europe. She graduated from Iowa in 1989 and earned a master’s degree in labor studies from Rutgers University in 2016. She currently serves as assistant coach and director of recruiting at the University of Central Florida.
Cheryl Williams: A South End Storyteller
Cheryl Williams is a writer of film, television, and music. She also grew up in the South End, raised by her grandmother in Methunion Manor. This Community Corner is based on a recent conversation with Cheryl, who generously shared her memories and reflections on growing up at Titus Sparrow Park and watching Michelle’s rise firsthand.
Cheryl first met Michelle as a young girl while playing basketball at Titus Sparrow Park, and the two remain in touch to this day. Through our interview, Cheryl spoke with pride and deep affection for the neighborhood and the community that shaped them both.
“The park was our summer camp,” Cheryl shared. “Many of us from the neighborhood were outside from the morning on. Focusing on basketball kept the kids out of trouble.”
The Mentors Who Shaped a Legend
Cheryl reflected on some of the people who helped shape Michelle’s path. “It was her brother Rodney who first started playing ball with her,” she said.
South End resident Robert Walker, (pictured above between Michelle and her former teammate Adrienne Johnson), was another major influence. “Rob was able to get Michelle an opportunity to play at the BC All-Stars Basketball Camp. After returning from that camp, she became a top-five player and earned an invitation back. Michelle told me things really took off after that. She became known beyond just Boston.”
Cheryl also cited Alfreda Harris (pictured with Michelle at her induction to the Hall of Fame), Program Director at The Shelburne Community Center, where the gymnasium is named in her honor and where Michelle starred for the Shelburne Smokers.
In a 2021 interview with Hoopshd.com, Michelle explained how she earned her nickname, Ice:
“One of my mentors in Boston who was also my AAU coach, Alfreda Harris, gave it to me. A woman named Medina Dixon who later went to Old Dominion was the original ‘Ice.’ She played a lot like George Gervin. She was older than me, so when she left, I inherited the nickname. I think it is cool. I never forgot what I needed to do because with that nickname you need to be able to deliver in key moments.”
Remembering the Courts and Their History
The Titus Sparrow basketball courts were named posthumously for Richard Lee Jones, who grew up playing here before tragically collapsing and passing away during practice at Canisius University, where he attended on a full basketball scholarship.
Sitting in Titus Sparrow Park and reflecting on its history, Cheryl had an epiphany.
“I thought back to our own mentors in Titus Sparrow Park. And how Michelle not only came from these courts, but she soared. I didn’t want that history erased.”
The Birth of the Michelle Edwards Initiative
From that moment of inspiration, the Michelle Edwards Initiative was born.
Cheryl reached out to lifelong friends who shared her commitment, including:
Bianca Cole Clark, founder of the Mary J. Harris Foundation
Pamela King and Michael King, children of the late South End visionary leader Mel King
Together, their vision to honor Michelle Edwards includes:
Adding a name plaque to the Titus Sparrow Park basketball court
Installing a Michelle Edwards statue within the City of Boston
Hosting an annual Michelle Edwards Youth Basketball Clinic at Titus Sparrow Park
As of this publication, Cheryl shared that the City of Boston has agreed to and completed the Michelle Edwards plaque to be installed at a future date.
The Friends of Titus Sparrow Park enthusiastically supports the Michelle Edwards Initiative and will share further details as they become available.
Thank you for reading. Stay tuned for the next edition of Community Corner. I look forward to sharing more inspiring stories of South End and St. Botolph residents who help our community thrive.
— Irwin Levy, Board Member, Friends of Titus Sparrow Park
