Barbara Jean Winstead Mills

Barbara Jean Cartledge Winstead Mills
March 8, 1932 – February 12, 2026

Barbara Jean Cartledge Winstead Mills was born on March 8, 1932, in Columbia, SC, to the late Estelle Martin Cartledge and Samuel Cartledge. She peacefully entered eternal rest on February
12, 2026.

At a very young age, Barbara moved from McCormick, SC, to Pittsburgh, PA, where she spent most of her life. At the age of 12, she accepted Christ as her Lord and Savior, and in 1946 became the first person to be baptized at Morning Star Baptist Church in West Mifflin, PA-a church founded by her parents along with her aunt and uncle, Lillie Mae and James Gilchrist.

Barbara's love for the Lord was unwavering. She served faithfully at Morning Star for over 50 years, holding numerous leadership roles including Youth Choir Director, Gospel Chorus President, Junior Church President, Sunday School Teacher and Superintendent, Deacon, Trustee, Director of Christian Education, Associate Minister, and Church Clerk-a position she held for more than 25 years.

Barbara graduated from Homestead High School and married the late Wheeler Winstead on February 20, 1949. They were blessed with four children: Wheeler Jr., Elfreda, Mary, and Deborah.

While raising her family, she worked diligently in various roles-including cashier, crossing guard, waitress, and mail sorter-demonstrating a strong work ethic, resilience and determination. Barbara attended secretarial school and began working for Pittsburgh Plate Glass,
where they quickly recognized her leadership potential and promoted her multiple times. In 1965, she joined the newly established U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). During the implementation of Head Start programs under the federal "War on Poverty," she became Director of the West Mifflin Head Start Program. Under her leadership, the program provided comprehensive education, health, and nutritional services to low-income, predominantly minority preschool children. Many teenagers from West Mifflin and Whitaker credit her with giving them their first jobs as summer preschool teacher's aides. Barbara also devoted herself to serving senior citizens through the Meals on Wheels program, ensuring that
seniors throughout Allegheny County received nutritious meals and compassionate wellness checks.

Her passion for education led her to enroll at the University of Pittsburgh in 1967 while working full-time. In 1972, she earned her Bachelor's degree in Education, followed by a Master's degree two years later. She went on to serve the West Mifflin Area School District as a classroom teacher, Reading Specialist, and ultimately as a Title I Coordinator until her retirement in 1997. Barbara's fierce commitment to education is also evident in that all four of her children attained advanced higher education degrees as well as the many youth who credited her school and church teachings for their academic and personal accomplishments. Even after retiring, Barbara continued tutoring and teaching in her home, at church, within the communities of West Mifflin
and Whitaker, PA, and later in Salisbury and Bowie, MD.

Barbara had an extraordinary gift for music. She was known for her powerful, soul-stirring voice and her faithful participation in the music ministry at Morning Star Baptist Church. Many fondly recall her singing with church choirs and alongside her dear friends in the Bethel Baptist Gospel Chorus: Eloise Alston, Judy Jenkins, Jean "Cuda" Alston, and Milton Alston.

In 2007, Barbara met Leon Mills. The two were united in marriage on April 26, 2008, at Jones Tabernacle Baptist Church in Baltimore, MD. They lived in Salisbury, MD before relocating in 2010 to Upper Marlboro, MD. She joined Resurrection Baptist Church in Silver Spring, where her late son-in-law, Rev. Leonard P. Massie, Jr., served as pastor. There, she worshiped joyfully alongside her family and formed lasting friendships. Following Rev. Massie's retirement in 2019, she became an active member of Kingdom Fellowship AME Church.

Barbara will be remembered as a loving, God-fearing mother, devoted wife, and generous friend. She cherished her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, faithfully praying for them and their families. She deeply loved her husband, affectionately calling him "Lee," and treasured
the life they built together.

She leaves to cherish her memory: her loving husband, Leon Mills; two sisters, Stella Cartledge Logan and Gwendolyn Cartledge; her son, Wheeler Ray (Jean) Winstead, Jr.; three daughters, Elfreda Winstead Massie, Mary Estelle Winstead, and Deborah Remalle (Thomas) Higdon; four grandsons, Joshua (Sarada) Winstead, Michael Anton, Wheeler Ray Winstead, III and Harold (Morgan) Hall III; four granddaughters, Nicole (Mark) Massie Martin, Michelle Massie, Gina Winstead, and Angela Winstead; eight great-grandchildren; five stepchildren, Bronda Mills, Arnetta Mills, Carolyn Bounds, Leon Mills Jr., and Lisa (David) Wright; ten step-grandchildren and a host of loving nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Barbara often quoted Psalm 37:23–25:
"The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand. I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread."

Her life and legacy serve as a beautiful reflection of those very words

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to the Estelle Martin Cartledge Scholarship Fund. To donate, visit the scholarship fund's site:

https://poisefoundation.org/estelle-martin-cartledge-memorial-fund