Beatrice Gilmer Mills

1919 - 2008

BORN

1919

DIED

2008

Beatrice Mills Obituary

Beatrice Gilmer Mills, 88, of Christiansburg, departed this life Tuesday morning, November 4, 2008, at Highland Ridge Health and Rehabilitation Center in Dublin after a long illness. She was born in Giles County on December 4, 1919. "Bea" was a beloved wife, mother, and grandmother and a talented gospel vocalist and pianist bringing joy and the movement of the Holy Spirit in her ministry and worked many years in the evangelist services with her evangelist mother. She had been a member of Bethel Chapel at Clendennin when she was younger and in later years Pilot Pentecostal Holiness Church and Oak Grove Church. She was preceded in death by her parents, Elliott H. and Effie Kingrea Gilmer; her stepfather Joe Deaton; her sons, E. Franklin "Buddy" Mills and Ralph Gilmer Mills; her husband, Walter C. Mills; and her brother, Earl M. Gilmer. She leaves to cherish her memory a son, Walter M. Mills and Audrey, of Christiansburg; a daughter, Dwen Lilly and Carry, of Christiansburg; eight grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren and greatgreat-grandchildren. Funeral services will be conducted 11 a.m. Friday morning in the Kendall Funeral Home at 605 Snidow Street in Pembroke with Pastor Eddie Kendall officiating. Burial will follow in Sunset Cemetery at Christiansburg. The family will receive friends at the funeral home Thursday evening from 6 to 8 p.m. Online condolences may be sent by visiting kendallfuneralhome.com.

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Published by Roanoke Times on Nov. 5, 2008.

Memories and Condolences
for Beatrice Mills

3 Entries

Cera Finney

November 6, 2008

Granny Bea,

Ever since I was brought out to this earth, I've seen nothing but your altruistic ways. You have been the light in everyone's eyes, from the extended family to the neighbor next door.

Something that especially touches my own heart is the gift you have passed down to me, the love of music and the gift of song. Everything I have ever been able to accomplish is because of you, and you have been the beauty in the song from the beginning.

May God always be with you in heaven. We wait to see you yet again in paradise. Until then, you will find the love in our hearts.

Always
Your great-granddaughter,

Cera

"Unable are the loved to die. For love is immortality." - Emily Dickinson

Audrey Long

November 6, 2008

There are alot of things about "Granny B" that I will always remember. I will always remember her great smile when I would go to visit her or take her out for the day. We would talk for hours about flowers and about days gone by. We would laugh and joke all the time. She was a great person and I will miss her. There's not a day that goes by that I don't think about her. She was always good and kind to me. I know she is at rest and in peace now and in no more pain with her illness that she had for so long. I loved her dearly.

Walter Mills

November 6, 2008

To my dearest family, some things I'd like to say...
but first of all, to let you know, that I arrived okay.
I'm writing this from heaven. Here I dwell with God above.
Here, there's no more tears of sadness; here is just eternal love.

Please do not be unhappy just because I'm out of sight.
Remember that I'm with you every morning, noon and night.
That day I had to leave you when my life on earth was through,
God picked me up and hugged me and He said, "I welcome you."

It's good to have you back again; you were missed while you were gone.
As for your dearest family, they'll be here later on.
I need you here badly; you're part of my plan.
There's so much that we have to do, to help our mortal man.

God gave me a list of things, that he wished for me to do.
And foremost on the list, was to watch and care for you.
And when you lie in bed at night, the day's chores put to flight.
God and I are closest to you....in the middle of the night.

When you think of my life on earth, and all those loving years
because you are only human, they are bound to bring you tears.
But do not be afraid to cry; it does relieve the pain.
Remember there would be no flowers, unless there was some rain.

I wish that I could tell you all that God has planned.
But if I were to tell you, you wouldn't understand.
But one thing is for certain, though my life on earth is o'er.
I'm closer to you now, than I ever was before.

There are many rocky roads ahead of you and many hills to climb;
but together we can do it by taking one day at a time.
It was always my philosophy and I'd like it for you too...
that as you give unto the world, the world will give to you.

If you can help somebody who's in sorrow and pain,
then you can say to God at night......"My day was not in vain."
And now I am contented....that my life has been worthwhile,
knowing as I passed along the way, I made somebody smile.

So if you meet somebody who is sad and feeling low,
just lend a hand to pick him up, as on your way you go.
When you're walking down the street, and you've got me on your mind;
I'm walking in your footsteps only half a step behind.

And when it's time for you to go.... from that body to be free,
remember you're not going.....you're coming here to me.

Ruth Ann Mahaffey (author)
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