Pictured above: Frances with her “twin,” advocting women’s rights, and starring as “The Witch”

A Sandwich and a Glass of Wine with a Fascinating Lady

By Terry Haycock

With this series of member profiles, we hope to enhance our knowledge of each other on personal as well as professional levels.

If you consulted Wikipedia, you would find that “Frances Broaddus Crutchfield, … born in Richmond, Virginia, is an actress, author of “Saving the Mattaponi” published in 2001, poet, political activist, environmentalist, and writer for the Richmond Free Press and other venues.” It goes on to say that she is a graduate of St. Catherine’s, Richmond, received a bachelor’s degree from Salem College, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and a masters in theater arts from Columbia University. She also has a Doctor of Humane Letters from Bacone College in Oklahoma. Frances has won many awards, including those offered by VPC and NFPW, but for me, although accurate, these facts are not as impressive as Frances herself.

We met recently at the Toast restaurant in Midlothian’s Winterfield shopping center. I was seated at a booth looking out the window at the patio graced with tables, chairs, and a canopy raised against the sun and 90-degree heat, when Frances entered from the reception area, cell phone at ear, finishing a conversation that had gone on longer than expected.  Apologizing, she disconnected, and we introduced ourselves. It was the beginning of a delightful four hours that turned from interview into what felt like chatting with a dear friend.

Asked about her acting experience, Frances said, in her delightful lilting Richmond accent, that although she went to New York with high hopes of Broadway stardom, she returned to Virginia when her father became ill. Her interest in theater began as a small child when she saw “Hansel and Gretel” in Atlanta. “I fell in love with the witch,” she said, eyes sparkling.  She has played the witch in several local productions of “The Wizard of OZ.” Hearing that St. Michael’s School in Bon Air was going into a WOO summer production, she auditioned over the phone using the witch’s voice and was hired on the spot! Her humor exhibits a sense of responsible mischief.

Frances is also focused and tenacious. While in middle school at St. Catherine’s, having been promised a horse by her mother if she learned to ride, she worked with the riding mistress and earned the horse. Asked if she still rode, Frances said, “I don’t have a horse now, but I would ride if the opportunity arose.” She also skis, has traveled the world for both business, political causes, and fun. She is a champion of the underdog and fit me in between political activities and preparations for her trip to Alaska. Asked about that, she said this was her third trip; on her second she met her “twin”, another lady with long gray hair; members of crew and passengers kept getting them mixed up, asking if they were twins. Finally, she and Carol Hopkins playfully told everyone they were twins! (I can picture the twinkles in their eyes). Recently, Carol called to say she was going on another Alaskan trip and Frances just had to go with her. Done and done! They were leaving three days after our interview. I look forward to hearing about their adventures.

It’s a small world in the NFPW. We discovered that IWPA’s Cecilia Green, responsible for my membership, is, along with her daughter Jill of the Wichita, Kansas, group, a dear friend. So many talented, interesting fun members comprise our organization.

These are just a few glimpses of the life and spirit of a valued VPC member. She’s bright, independent, dedicated, and great company. But don’t take my word for it. Seek her out at a VPC event. Your conversation is bound to be interesting, enlightening, and fun!