Mildred Barbee Garner

Mrs. Mildred Barbee Garner, formerly of 2020 Sussex Lane, Winston-Salem, died Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2002, at Clemmons Village, after an assault by Alzheimer's disease to which she responded valiantly with personal dignity and continuing gentility. She was born June 20, 1916, in Nashua, N.H., to George Harry and Kathreen Wilkins Barbee. She was a 1935 graduate of Reynolds High School, gaining the superlatives of "Biggest Flirt" and "Jolliest." Her stated ambition at the time of her graduation was "to enjoy life." For her family and friends, Mildred shared her life with a zeal and enthusiasm and a stinging though harmless wit. She was never at a loss for sharing her insight and opinion or for making her social standing and community position a perogative for expected prefer-ential treatment, which she received with mirth and shared hilarity. She was married to the late Thad W. Garner, the founder and president of T.W. Garner Food Co. Mildred fondly referred to the company as "the plant." Thad frequently bragged about his wife being his best and most persuasive salesperson. This distinction was the result of Mildred's fondness for reshelv-ing Garner jelly products and Texas Pete sauces in front of competitive brands in local grocery stores. More than once, members of the Lanier family from Mount Tabor Food Market and of the Messick family from Food Fair made pleas to Thad to redirect Mildred's approach to competitive consumerism. From their earliest days when dating, theirs was an especial relation-ship of love, sharing and dedica-tion. Thad and Mildred cele-brated their 50th wedding anni-versary in 1987. Mrs. Garner was a lifelong member of First Christian Church in Winston-Salem. As a caring and generous friend to many, she was an active volunteer in the Winston-Salem community. She had been involved in local PTA school programs, the Winston-Salem Symphony, the Junior Woman's Club, the City Tennis League, duplicate-bridge clubs, the Twin City Club, and, her favorite involvement, being "home parents" with her husband to Wake Forest University international students, providing a unique American home environment of sharing and happiness for the students away from campus. Mildred was a devoted patron of Ryan's where she held certain gentlemen employees in heartfelt admira-tion, as well as commanding a designated parking space for her frequent visits for dinner. Though an avid devotee of the restaurant, she never forgave management for eliminating lunch service from her social sphere. As a longtime member of the Twin City Club, Mildred was known and loved by the employees and other members. Her presence was always an added highlight to the evenings when she would share her love for the music and join in the dancing. Her love for music provided her with a near-fanatic fondness for Elvis Presley, whom Mildred had the accidental pleasure of "running into" outside the Carolina Theater in the 1950s when he was rushing from his bus to go on stage and collided with Mildred on Marshall Street. She never failed to enjoy the telling of her encounter with her idol, The King. Many residents and commuters around Sussex Lane and Reynolds High School will recall the sight of Mildred driving the family's red Austin-Healy, holding an umbrella against the rain, smoking a RJR cigarette, and changing gears successfully. Her dexterity, she noted, was a result of her multi-talented sports activities of her youth, which she applied to being an exceptional wife, mother and grandmother. How-ever, her choice of diet was sometimes suspect when she insisted that chocolate was a separate and essential food group. Though time attempted to dampen the spirit of this courageous and lively lady, nothing could take from Mildred Garner her love for life, for enjoying each day's adventure, which involved meeting and dealing with others. She sought to share life as an extension of her personal beliefs in happiness and the zest for each experience to be bountiful with laughter and excitement. Mrs. Garner was preceded in death by her husband in 1997; her grandson, William N. "Tad" Homan Jr. in 1981, who gave her the name of "Go-Go"; her sister, Helen Barbee Brewer; and a brother, George H. Barbee Jr. Mrs. Garner is survived by her beloved and most devoted daughter, Kathryn and fiance Ned C. "Jeep" Ingram Jr. In addition, Mrs. Garner is survived by her nephews, Jim Barbee and George Barbee; nieces Claire Barbee Cook and Susan Brewer Williams; her much loved Wake Forest University international "daugh-ters," Elsa R. Cortes of Colombia, South America, and Eugenia A. Bruce of Chersterfield, England; and other special "daughters," Patricia R. Guy and Kay Pitzer Petril. A very special note of appreciation is extended to the caring staffs at the Brookridge Baptist Retirement Home and most recently Clemmons Village I. Sincere gratitude is extended to Mildred's nurses: Jada Whicker, Minnie Baker, Denise Orr and Myrtle Herring; and to devoted care-assistance providers: Bob Decker, Teresa and Johnny Price, and Ursula Raiford. The funeral service will be 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 5, 2003, at Vogler & Sons Reynolda Road Chapel, with a graveside service to follow at Forsyth Memorial Park Maus-oleum, Old Yadkinville Highway, by Mr. Jack White and Dr. Jack R. Noffsinger. Mrs. Garner's daugh-ter, Kathryn, will receive friends at her home at 4630 Cherryhill Lane, Winston-Salem from 7 to 9 this evening, Jan. 4,, 2003. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Garden Development Fund, c/o Wins-ton-Salem Industries for the Blind (IFB), 7730 North Point Blvd., Winston-Salem, NC 27106; to the Thad and Mildred Garner Fund for Winston-Salem and Forsyth County Charitable Pro-grams, c/o the Winston-Salem Foundation, 860 W. Fifth St., Winston-Salem, NC 27101; or to a charity of the donor's choice. "The battle is over; the victory is won. No more sorrow; no more pain. For those who die in Christ, they shall be made whole and live again forever. Amen."