Dorothy “Dot” Lawrence Mills lived for almost 100 years. She was born in Waters, Arkansas on October 14, 1919. She passed into her eternal life in Hayden, Alabama on Saturday, April 6, 2019. As a young bride, Dot left her beloved Ouachita Mountains of Arkansas, as well as her close and very large extended family of Goodners and Lawrences. As Dot grew into a young adult during the Depression years, she declined the college scholarship that was offered; but instead, joined her rural family and neighbors, in Pine Ridge, Arkansas, in surviving the hardships of the 1930s.
One special day, just before WWII, she met John B. Mills (deceased, 1987) and on Feb 4, 1939, she and John were married.She had a mind of her own, and although she might not readily follow his directions, she certainly didn’t let John leave without her as they packed and moved to four different states. But, he did have to promise to never move this mountain girl back to the Mississippi Delta. They brought their family to Arab, Alabama in the early days of the new space program, and both shared in the excitement and anticipation of space travel, as did many other families of North Alabama in the early 1950’s.
Throughout her many years, Dot was a teacher of important life lessons to her four children, her grandchildren, nieces and nephews, and many other ‘neighbor children’ and young friends. She could identify all species of trees, birds by their song, and knew old folklore that really could predict the weather. She shared her appreciation for the beauty of every changing season, sunsets, stars in the night skies, and most living creatures…and cared for all sorts of strays; both people and animals. However, she did not like possums or crows, and to her visiting grandsons’ delight would grab her .22 and shoot at the unwanted creatures…There are a few holes in the garage and a shed that leave a reminder of her occasional misses.
Dot grew beautiful plants and fabulous summer gardens. She preserved and froze thousands of pounds of fresh vegetables, fruit jellies and pickles. In fact, Dot was a living testimony to the long-term effect of vinegar and dill, particularly when hidden Kerr jars, of yesteryears, appeared. She was known for her southern pecan and chocolate meringue pies, bread and butter pickles, and her chocolate fudge which always drew visitors, when the word went out of what she was doing that day. She enjoyed Zane Grey books, the beach in fall, Nat King Cole, along with decades of saved Southern Living and Redbook Magazines. For her, polyester was a true miracle…Dot stopped ironing in 1968. She believed and lived in the power of prayer, in never losing hope, in laughter and kindness, and in caring for others.
Thirty-two years of first-graders at the First Baptist Church of Arab learned the stories of Jesus and the beauty of God’s creation from her,and she taught her own children to sit still during worship with that quick side-glare and occasional good pinch. She chaperoned band buses and field trips for two decades.Our cherished memories will include her love of storytelling. You never left her without hearing one story or several, or perhaps the same one several times.
Dot Mills blessed and enriched the lives of her son Wiley Mills (deceased)(Peggy), daughters Sue Mann, of New Hope, Sharon (John) Altland of Denver, CO, and son Johnny Mills (Lynn), of Hayden, who has been faithful in spending time with her daily and provided her constant care for the past eight years, at her assisted home in Hayden.
She loved sharing the lives of her grandsons, Adam Smith (Cassidy) Denver, CO, Lake Mills, Ruth, Ford Mills (Bekah), Hayden, Clay Mills, Birmingham, Caleb Altland, Sherman, TX, and Keith Mills (deceased). All pictures and new stories about the next generation of great-grands: Mackenzie, Tristin, Barrett, and Drake Mills, and Anne-Claire Smith, brought her joy. She always wanted to hear about her special step grandsons and granddaughters and their families;and she cherished news about the dozens of nieces and nephews scattered across the country, and the globe.
After a wonderful long life of loving and being loved, our mother, grandmother, aunt Dot, and friend is now home in heaven and will be waiting, with new stories, to greet the many of us who love her.
The life of Dot Millswill be celebrated with a memorial service on Wednesday, April 10, 2019, at the Arab Heritage Memorial Chapel, North Main Street. Visitation with the family will be from 12 noon until 2:00 p.m. The memorial service will begin at 2:00 p.m. and a graveside service will follow in the Arab Memorial Cemetery, South Main Street. Arab Heritage Memorial Chapel assisting the family.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you consider a gift to a charity, of your choice, that will make a difference in the life of a child, or a young person. Mom would be delighted to know that you thought of her when doing this.
