Obituary for Lou Ellen Mills (Pierce)
Funeral services for Lou Mills, 94, of Athens, are scheduled for 1:00 p.m., Wednesday, February 24, 2021 at New York Baptist Church with Jeff Skipper and Bro. Erick Graham officiating. Interment will follow at New York Cemetery under the direction of Hannigan Smith Funeral Home.
Mrs. Mills passed away February 18, 2021.
Lou Ellen (Pierce) Mills was born July 3, 1926 at home in Anderson County, the daughter of Thomas David Pierce and Rebecca Elizabeth (Knighton) Pierce. Lou was married for 67 years to her husband, Jack Mills, and served along beside him as a pastor’s wife at several churches. Tarrant Road Baptist Church, Fort Worth, Texas and Harwood Terrace Baptist Church, Bedford, Texas were among two of their longest tenures. She was a member of New York Baptist Church where they spent the last 12 years of their ministry. She received her Bachelor’s Degree from East Texas Baptist University, Marshall, Texas and later graduated from Tarleton State University with her Master’s Degree. She dedicated herself as a teacher for over 28 years to the Hurst-Euless-Bedford Independent School District and the Glen Rose Independent School District. Lou enjoyed many hobbies, quilting, sewing, reading, crafting, journaling and listening to her large collection of music. Dancing was one of her childhood favorites and talked often of dancing across heaven with her husband when she joined him. Lou loved her family, especially her grandchildren who affectionately called her “Grams”. She will be missed by all those that knew and loved her.
She is preceded in death by her parents; husband Jack Mills; son Mark Mills; grandson Justin McLelland; great grandsons, Noah Jones, Harley Sinclair and numerous brothers and sisters.
Survivors include daughters, Jackie Lewis of Glen Rose, Martha Melton of Austin, Mary Beck of Athens; daughter-in-law, Marsha Mills of Bullard; sixteen grandchildren, Angie Sinclair and husband Bill, Andrea Lewis, Amy Wright and husband Jay, Allison Nowak and husband Rory, Billy Jack Lewis and wife Lynn, Robert Joshua-Jackson Skipper and wife Jodie, Mindy Bridge and husband Matt, Jeff Skipper, Heather Clark, Daniel Cole, Jennifer Riojas and husband Nick, Jamie McKinley and husband Brandon, Ali Mills, Josh Cole and wife Caroline, Cherith Mills, Luke Mills; 29 great grandchildren and 12 great great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be held from 6-8:00 p.m., Tuesday, February 23, 2021 at the Hannigan Smith Funeral Home of Athens.
Serving as pallbearers will be Lanny Reynolds, John Henry Reynolds, Larry Holcomb, Bubba Holcomb, Gary Hilton and Terry Bristow. Honorary pallbearers will be Elton Gracey and Bob Costlow.
Mrs. Mills passed away February 18, 2021.
Lou Ellen (Pierce) Mills was born July 3, 1926 at home in Anderson County, the daughter of Thomas David Pierce and Rebecca Elizabeth (Knighton) Pierce. Lou was married for 67 years to her husband, Jack Mills, and served along beside him as a pastor’s wife at several churches. Tarrant Road Baptist Church, Fort Worth, Texas and Harwood Terrace Baptist Church, Bedford, Texas were among two of their longest tenures. She was a member of New York Baptist Church where they spent the last 12 years of their ministry. She received her Bachelor’s Degree from East Texas Baptist University, Marshall, Texas and later graduated from Tarleton State University with her Master’s Degree. She dedicated herself as a teacher for over 28 years to the Hurst-Euless-Bedford Independent School District and the Glen Rose Independent School District. Lou enjoyed many hobbies, quilting, sewing, reading, crafting, journaling and listening to her large collection of music. Dancing was one of her childhood favorites and talked often of dancing across heaven with her husband when she joined him. Lou loved her family, especially her grandchildren who affectionately called her “Grams”. She will be missed by all those that knew and loved her.
She is preceded in death by her parents; husband Jack Mills; son Mark Mills; grandson Justin McLelland; great grandsons, Noah Jones, Harley Sinclair and numerous brothers and sisters.
Survivors include daughters, Jackie Lewis of Glen Rose, Martha Melton of Austin, Mary Beck of Athens; daughter-in-law, Marsha Mills of Bullard; sixteen grandchildren, Angie Sinclair and husband Bill, Andrea Lewis, Amy Wright and husband Jay, Allison Nowak and husband Rory, Billy Jack Lewis and wife Lynn, Robert Joshua-Jackson Skipper and wife Jodie, Mindy Bridge and husband Matt, Jeff Skipper, Heather Clark, Daniel Cole, Jennifer Riojas and husband Nick, Jamie McKinley and husband Brandon, Ali Mills, Josh Cole and wife Caroline, Cherith Mills, Luke Mills; 29 great grandchildren and 12 great great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be held from 6-8:00 p.m., Tuesday, February 23, 2021 at the Hannigan Smith Funeral Home of Athens.
Serving as pallbearers will be Lanny Reynolds, John Henry Reynolds, Larry Holcomb, Bubba Holcomb, Gary Hilton and Terry Bristow. Honorary pallbearers will be Elton Gracey and Bob Costlow.