Tupelo- Mildred Parker Gilliam, 91, died Sunday, December 18, 2011, at Cedars Heath Center after a brief illness. A Verona native, she was born January 17, 1920, to Jourdan and Nancy Caroline McCollum Parker and was the last member of ten children. She retired in 1982 from Reed’s Manufacturing after 35 years of service. She was a life long member of East Height Baptist Church where she taught Sunday school and helped with the VBS programs until declining health. Her hobbies included quilting, crocheting and she was an avid reader. She was a very talented artist and pursued her art and art instruction after retirement.

Services will be 1 p.m. Tuesday, December 20, 2011 at The Jefferson Street Chapel of W. E. Pegues with Rev. Danny Balint, Bro. Charles McCormick and Rev. Tim Williams officiating. Burial will be in Priceville Cemetery.

Survivors include four daughters, Jeanne Whitt (John) of Athens, Alabama, Joyce Foster (Roy) of Nettleton, Lynn Awad (Sami) of Ocean Springs and Sue Frye (Curtis) Of Bartlett, Tennessee; twelve grandchildren, Roy Foster Jr. (Rebecca) of Nettleton, La Mesa Whitt of Forestville,California, Thomas Whitt of Athens, Alabama, Steve Whitt (Christy) of Athens Alabama, Robert Foster (Stacy) of Nettleton, Nicolas Matina (Sonja) of Los Angeles, California, Angelo Matina (Maria) of Gulfport, Tonya Kelly (Sam) of Huntsville, Alabama, Tammie Coggin of Tupelo, Tina West of Tupelo, Andrew Gilliam of Baltimore Maryland, Michael Silver of Fayetteville, Arkansas; twenty-three great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren .

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband F. A. Gilliam in 1993; her son Jerry Gilliam in 1995; a grandson Andre Matina in 1989 ; a great- granddaughter, Hallie Foster in 2000; five brothers and four sisters.

Pallbearers will be Roy Foster Jr., Robert Foster, Rick Foster, Will Foster, Rocky Foster and Tony Silver.

Visitation will be 11 a.m. Tuesday, December 20, 2011 at the funeral home.

Expressions of sympathy may be left at www.peguesfuneralhome.com